UNIFIL’s Force Commander and Head of Mission Major General Michael Beary joined UNIFIL Sector West Commander Brigadier General Rodolfo Sganga and some 120 other UN Peacekeepers and soldiers from the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) today to pull up their sleeves and donate blood for the Red Cross in Tyre.

UNIFIL Peacekeepers hosted the event in Shama, UNIFIL’s Western Sector Command, noting the importance of having these routine events to ensure there is enough blood in case of emergencies, trauma related injuries and routine operations.  

It is not only a show of solidarity, it fits well with UNIFIL’s Mandate of protection of civilians and can help save the lives of women, children and men in south Lebanon and throughout the country.

This is not the first time UNIFIL Peacekeepers have donated blood.  In June, the Force Commander and other UN Peacekeepers donated blood during a country wide drive. 

UNIFIL currently has around 10,500 peacekeepers who maintain some 13,500 operational activities per month, by day and night, in the area of operations. UNIFIL, which works closely with the Lebanese Armed Forces, is complemented by a seven-vessel Maritime Task Force.