About 2,500 children from UNIFIL’s area of operations in south Lebanon joined UN peacekeepers in Sultaniyah, Tibnin last Sunday to celebrate “Children’s Spring Festival.”

The annual event, which was the seventh in a row, saw the children between six and 16 years of age from Marjayoun, Bint Jbeil and Tyre. Hundreds of UNIFIL peacekeepers from France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia and Nepal entertained the children through various cultural, social and educational activities.

UNIFIL troops performed cultural shows and organized exhibitions for the children. They also taught drawing and did face painting.

The aim of the event – which was the culmination of joint efforts of UNIFIL, a local non-governmental organization called “ALPHA” and the Al Qalaa Union of Municipalities – was to boost the existing excellent relationship between UNIFIL peacekeepers and host communities.

UNIFIL attaches great importance to relations with the local population among whom the peacekeepers operate. One of the facets of this relationship is participating in community events and ensuring normal daily lives within UNIFIL’s area of operations