Timely support from UNIFIL’s Indian and Spanish peacekeepers to the Lebanese Civil Defence firefighters in putting out a large fire averted a major damage to the communities in Hasbaya, south-eastern Lebanon, on Wednesday.  

After a gas station named “Jumblat” caught fire at 9:00 a.m., the blaze grew in magnitude uncontrollably and was turning steadily into a major risk to the nearby communities. After the Mayor of Hasbaya, Labib al-Hamra, requested UNIFIL for assistance, Spanish and Indian peacekeepers reached the site immediately afterwards with their firefighting equipment.  

The UNIFIL peacekeepers helped the Lebanese Civil Defence in putting out the fire completely at 12:30 p.m.  

Later, Mayor al-Hamra and locals expressed their appreciation and gratitude to UNIFIL for the timely and quick response, averting a major disaster in the area. 

Besides carrying out the core operational activities across UNIFIL’s 1,060 square kilometre area of operation between the Litani River and the Blue Line in south Lebanon, its peacekeepers also carry out a number of activities and implement small-scale projects directly benefiting the local population.