As part of UNIFIL’s ongoing support to host communities in their fight against the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic, the Mission’s peacekeepers from Serbia donated last week packages of sanitary and hygiene supplies to 100 underprivileged families in the village of Deir Mimas, south-eastern Lebanon.

Each package contained hand disinfectant liquid (anti-viral), washing powder, chlorine solution, dishwashing detergent, laundry conditioner, toilet paper and paper tissues.

UNIFIL’s Serbian contingent commander Lieutenant Colonel Marko Marjanovic handed over the packages to the priest of the village monastery, Salim Nicolas Asaad, on 8 December 2020.

While expressing his appreciation for the support, Mr. Asaad said the packages were the “best Christmas gift” in the pandemic era.

The latest support in the UNIFIL area of operations is the continuation of similar previous efforts by the Mission and its peacekeepers, supporting Lebanese state institutions in the face of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The support in combating the ongoing health emergency also seeks to strengthen the bond between the Mission’s peacekeepers and local communities, which together with UNIFIL’s operational activities have helped keep calm in the Mission's area of operation for more than 14 years.

UNIFIL currently has about 180 Serbian peacekeepers, working to implement UNIFIL’s mandate in south Lebanon.

(UN Photos / Pvt. Nerea Gonzalez Dasilva)