UNIFIL has extended a helping hand to the Lebanese Red Cross (LRC) in Tyre, providing essential resources to enable them to reach those in urgent need more effectively. The donation includes a new vehicle and vital medical supplies. 

The new vehicle, funded by UNIFIL and its Finnish contingent, will allow the LRC to distribute essentials like food, water, medicine, and blankets to people in Tyre and nearby villages. Previously, the LRC had been using ambulances for this purpose, which limited their ability to respond to emergency medical needs. Now, the ambulances can focus on saving lives, while the new vehicle handles the delivery of supplies to those in need.

UNIFIL Civil Affairs Officer Rola Bzeih emphasized the importance of this collaboration and how it enables them to better support the community, whether during a crisis or everyday situations: “This project is part of our ongoing support to first responders, like the Red Cross. It has been a long-standing initiative, and it reflects UNIFIL's mission and commitment to supporting the local community.”

In addition to the vehicle, the Italian contingent donated a range of vital medical supplies to assist those facing health issues. These include hospital beds, walking aids, wheelchairs, ICU equipment, and medications for various conditions, from heart issues to respiratory problems. The items were gathered by charitable and community groups in Italy to help people in need in Lebanon.

The medical aid from the Italian community to the LRC is part of the ongoing, vital support aimed at improving the living conditions of the Lebanese people. Brigadier General Stefano Messina, UNIFIL Sector West Commander, stated, “Sector West continues to support the Lebanese people.” He added, “This work is important to us, and we will keep supporting these efforts until our mission in Lebanon is complete.”

During the handover ceremony, Mouzayan Silklawy Ajami, President of the Tyre LRC, expressed her gratitude and highlighted how the support makes a real difference. She explained that it allows the LRC to deliver more help to people, both through medical aid and by getting necessary supplies to the community more quickly. She said, “This cooperation is ongoing; it's not the first time, and it serves the humanitarian interests and the well-being of people in the area.”

With this support, the Red Cross can continue its crucial work assisting displaced families and people in the Tyre district. This donation, like all of UNIFIL's efforts, highlights the mission’s ongoing commitment to improving the lives of those in need and restoring security and stability to south Lebanon.