UNIFIL’s Nepalese Battalion (NEPBATT) Commander and the Mayor of Chaqra inaugurated a series of wall paintings by local students in the south-eastern Lebanese village earlier this week.

In the antique historical city of Tyre – criss-crossed by a labyrinth of narrow streets and pathways – the onset of spring is usually a boon. The reason: it brings with it economic prosperity in the form of thousands of tourists.  

Bassem Hashem, Deputy Mayor of Shab’a, strolls along the recently graded dirt road and pauses at the new bridge. He examines the construction work and chats with the structural engineer. Construction of this new bridge crossing a stream in the valley has just been completed.