UNIFIL peacekeepers across southern Lebanon have been conducting numerous medical and educational support initiatives in aid of local communities in their pursuit of rebuilding lives following the recent conflict.

Over the past weeks, medical teams from China, Ghana, India, Italy, Republic of Korea, Malaysia and Spain organized medical camps in south Lebanese towns and villages, benefiting hundreds.

Diverse groups of specialist doctors – including experts in urology, gynecology, general surgery, burn and plastic surgery, dentistry, ophthalmology, obstetrics and orthopedics – offered free checkups and medicines to those in need.

During a two-day medical camp in Tyre alone (26-27 March), UNIFIL medics from Ghana, Malaysia, Korea and Italy checked and handed out free medicines to about 230 patients, whose primary health issues were related to eyes, dental, and skin infections, as well as hypertension and diabetes.

Separately, at a medical camp in the village of Burj Rahal, Korean peacekeepers reached a milestone on 10 April as they treated the 130,000th patient since their participation in UNIFIL in 2007. Since the cessation of hostilities agreement of last November, Korean medical teams have been treating around 30 patients daily.

Last month, Chinese and Spanish medics joined hands in treating about 100 men, women and children in the south-eastern of Marjayoun and 64 in Majdal Slim. Spanish peacekeepers also donated vital medical supplies, including a multifunctional wheelchair, to the Marjayoun Public Hospital.

Following the Majdal Slim medical camp, a patient with traumatic brain injury traveled to the hospital run by UNIFIL’s Chinese peacekeepers in Ibl el-Saqi for further treatment. The hospital’s neurosurgeon Dr. Yang Ruixin and acupuncture specialist Dr. Zhuo Jinchun jointly developed a comprehensive two-month rehabilitation plan for the patient, incorporating acupuncture therapy to support recovery.

Meanwhile, in the town of Burj al-Shamali, near Tyre, Italian peacekeepers have donated medical and orthopedic supplies to the local municipality, which will benefit “the most vulnerable citizens” of the area including some of those still displaced by the recent conflict.

Indian peacekeepers supported the Hasbaya District Medical Care Centre with a significant amount of 30 types of essential medicines. These essential items ranged from various fluids and bandages to syrups, crutches and tablets.

Peacekeepers have also been assisting public schools, enabling them to resume classes and other activities.

Blat Public School was one of them, receiving vital school supplies, donated by UNIFIL’s Spanish peacekeepers. That support has benefited 70 students of the school.

Indian peacekeepers have launched a campaign in schools in south-eastern Lebanon to raise awareness about the dangers of unexploded ordnances.

The Spanish peacekeepers have launched another a campaign called “Hidalgo Digital”, organizing a series of educational sessions for children on the safe and responsible use of social media. More than 60 participants from south-eastern villages have already benefited from this campaign.

Mohammad Saad School in Abbassiyeh, near Tyre, is another school to benefit from UNIFIL peacekeepers’ support. Korean peacekeepers donated taekwondo mats, laptops, lamps, and various educational supplies to the school.