UNIFIL, in collaboration with the Association of the Friends of Ibrahim Abd El Al (AFIAL) and local authorities, today launched an awareness campaign aimed at educating the public in southern Lebanon about conservation and protection of water resources.

From left to right Ms. Svjetlana Jovic, Sector West Civil Affairs Team Leader, Mayor of Naqoura Mr. Hosein Awada and Mr. Abdel Munim Al Husseini Head of the Union of Tyre municipalities at the "Water Conservation Awareness Campaign" in Naqoura, 8 December 2011

The campaign targeting the youths of the south opened at the Naqoura Public Intermediate School. The Mayor of Naqoura, Mr. Hosein Awada, Director of the Naqoura Intermediate School Mr. Jamal Hamza and officials from UNIFIL's office of Civil Affairs attended the first awareness session.

During the awareness session, AFIAL delivered a presentation on water availability, stressing the problems affecting water, particularly those existing in south Lebanon, and also suggested simple ways and means by which such problems could be addressed. Students also received a brochure providing practical hints on protection and conservation of water.

Speaking at the launch of the campaign, Ms. Svjetlana Jovic, Sector West Civil Affairs Team Leader, said: "The campaign seeks to instill new values in children on how to use water sparingly so that there is enough for everyone to share this precious resource." Ms. Jovic called on the children to work as ''Ambassadors of water conservation".

The main objectives of the campaign are to raise public awareness on conservation and protection of water resources; educate and instill in the youths new habits and behaviour aimed at preserving water resources; and promote the participation of the young generation in eco-friendly activities aimed at highlighting the conservation, protection and prudent use of water resources.

The awareness campaign has the full support of local authorities and intermediate school directors. It will initially cover intermediate high schools located in towns and villages along the Blue Line and subsequently across UNIFIL's Area of Operation.