As part of UNIFIL’s continued support to host communities, the mission executed two projects this week with the aim of improving food security in south-eastern Lebanon.

The agricultural support projects in the villages of Bani Hayyan and Bourj Al Malouke seek to improve the livelihoods of local residents, especially during the ongoing socioeconomic crisis in Lebanon.

At a handover ceremony in Bani Hayyan on 5 July, UNIFIL Indonesian Battalion Deputy Commander Lieutenant Colonel Dani Indrajaya handed over various pieces of agricultural equipment, such as a water cistern and trailer, to the local mayor, Yahya Jaber.

Similarly, at a separate ceremony in Bourj Al Malouke on 7 July, UNIFIL Spanish Battalion Commander Lieutenant Colonel Pérez Montes handed over two water pumps for the local water reservoir to Mayor Elias Ncoula Seleiman.

Funded through UNIFIL’s Quick Impact Project (QIP) programme, both donations followed requests from the respective local authorities and were coordinated with the Lebanese Armed Forces, and will boost agricultural output and the local economy.

UNIFIL QIPs are small-scale, rapidly implementable projects that aim to address some of the most pressing needs of the host population and support local authorities while strengthening links between UNIFIL and local communities. They are crucial for continued stability in the south.