UNIFIL’s French peacekeepers from the Mission’s Force Commander’s Reserve (FCR) donated civil defense firefighters in the south-western village of Alma al-Sha’b, near the Blue Line, with firefighting and security gear last week.

The support enables the Lebanese civil defense, a public civil emergency service that carries out firefighting, search and rescue activities, to perform its work more effectively – especially now as a new wave of conflict along the Blue Line runs in its fourth month.

Since October 2023, Alma al-Sha’b has been one of the south Lebanese villages most affected by the renewed hostilities, forcing most of its residents to flee to safer locations.

Last week’s support from UNIFIL’s FCR included personal protective equipment as well as automobile equipment and related accessories (for intervention vehicles).

UNIFIL’s cooperation with the Lebanese Civil Defense dates back to 2008 and has encompassed a plethora of support interventions ranging from equipping of the existing civil defense facilities to facilitation of joint exercises and training courses.