A group of UNIFIL peacekeepers paid visits to special needs children in Ayta ash-Shaab and orphan girls in Tibnin, both within the UNIFIL area of operation in south Lebanon, as part of their community outreach activities, last week.

During the 3 March visits, the peacekeepers handed out educational toys and stationery as gifts to about 150 special needs children in Ayta ash-Shaab and about 60 girls in an orphanage in Tibnin. The gifts were sponsored by an Italian non-governmental organization called Christian Community.

The UNIFIL peacekeepers from Ghana, Indonesia, Italy and Malaysia also interacted with the children and played games.

While at the orphanage, UNIFIL peacekeepers from Indonesia enthralled the little girls living there with live music performance and Indonesian cultural dance. In return, the girls also performed a local dance.

Various UNIFIL assets carry out outreach activities in local communities directly benefitting the population. These interactions help understand each other and strengthen the bonds between them.