For Free Distribution Not For Sale

September 2008 - no.03

youthful Perspe ctive He died so we could live

As Al Janoub went to print, UNIFIL was with the battalion’s de-miners and on struck by a tragedy. Warrant Officer Stefaan call. Whenever the de-miners would find Vanpeteghem, serving in UNIFIL’s Belgian something suspected to be a mine, bomb, Battalion (BELUBATT), was killed in an cluster or other munition, Stefaan and his explosion while on a mission to neutralize men would be there to remove the device, unexploded ordnance near Aytaroun on neutralize or destroy it. 3 September. His Section was, and remains, a vital asset Married, with two daughters aged seven for UNIFIL. If, for example, a farmer found a and nine years, Stefaan was serving in the munition and reported it to UNIFIL, the EOD Belgian Army since 1989. In 2004 he joined Section would be called to visit the location the specialised Explosive Ordnance Disposal and deal with the problem. (EOD) unit located in the small town of Poelkapelle in the Belgian province of West During his three months in south Lebanon, Flanders. His life’s mission was defined: Stefaan and his team had found dozens of to save the world from some of man’s deadly explosive devices that could have deadliest creations. killed or maimed innocent people. But there was one too many that remained, lurking It was on this mission that three months to kill the saviour himself. ago Stefaan arrived in Lebanon. Warrant Officer Stefaan Vanpeteghem, As Adjutant, he led the three-member EOD 35 years old, died in the line of duty. Section of BELUBATT, working together Editorial Back to the future In its last issue Al Janoub celebrated three decades of UNIFIL’s foundation. Producing the special edition -with gracious contributions from stalwarts, Lebanese as well as United Nations officials, who had significant associations with the mission- was like re-living the chequered history of south Lebanon. As we delved into the annals to reconstruct an account of UNIFIL since 1978, the significant fact that stood out was the strong humanitarian bond between peacekeepers and the people of south Lebanon that has endured through all of the 30 years of war and peace.

Having catalogued its historical moorings, together to alleviate the psychological trauma we now explore this unique humanitarian bond of war through creative engagement of children from the futuristic perspective. This issue of and the elderly alike, extols the virtue of pooling Al-Janoub is a tribute to the future, the youth, civil society and governmental resources for the of south Lebanon in their vibrant interface with common good. UNIFIL peacekeepers. Imad Abed Razek from the NGO ‘Nabaa’ What better way to explore this relationship that partnered UNIFIL in a youth enabling than through the pen of the youth themselves. project in five villages of south Lebanon, We invited visiting school students from south provides an interesting account of young Lebanon to write about their impressions on aspirations, realized with amazing alacrity a day they spent with UNIFIL in Naqoura. Our and enterprise. A stellar example of how own impression of them was of a confident a little guidance can “club” youthful energy, generation, poised to define their own destiny imagination and voluntariness toward tangible with an equanimity that defies the grim realities benefits for society. of their recent past. The ‘photo feature’ captures some images of the day. Not to be left behind, UNIFIL’s Indonesian peacekeepers take us on a “smart” learning In working with children and young people, curve – a national innovation applied in 11 the driving force among world organizations villages of south Lebanon to promote child is UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund. education through fun learning experiences Its Lebanon Representative Roberto Laurenti designed to stimulate the young minds. paints the broader picture on youth concerns that transcend geography. Through strategic UNIFIL’s long association with the people of partnerships and youth participation, hallmarks south Lebanon positively reflects in the Opinion of UNICEF’s approach, concrete improvements piece from Bilal Sharara, Secretary General for are being affected in the lives of children and Foreign Affairs in the Lebanese Parliament. And women in the south, as much as in other parts Mayor Hussein Saad of Teir Debba too has his of the country. ‘Word’ on it. The sensitivity to community needs that underlies the relationship is expounded in Psycho-social support for children affected by the article on Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC). conflict in south Lebanon is an important aspect of the partnership between UNICEF This issue is primarily about the youth’s and UNIFIL, joined by multiple international perspective on UNIFIL and how it corresponds and local organisations. The result is the Bent to their sense of the future. The common strand Jbeil Community Centre, the first of its kind, can be discerned in myriad hues of humanity. as Samer Haydar of the NGO ‘Intersos’, the lead implementing partner, outlines. This coming Neeraj Singh Editor-in-Chief Contents

Editorial Back to the future 3

Chronicle UNIFIL turns 30, New Deputy 5 | 7 Force Commander, Mine Action Day, 60 years of peacekeeping, For the children of Chebaa, Watering the fields of Khiam, The foot that came from Jaipur, Soccer in Adshit Al Quasayr, A road to Beit Leif, Joining festivities in Tyre, Maritime Task Force changes command.

‘Al Janoub’ Photo feature A Day with UNIFIL 10 | 11 is published bimonthly by UNIFIL Office of Public Information

Publisher Design/Graphics | Milos Strugar Zeina Ezzeddine Youth 8 15 Editor-in-Chief Editorial support Neeraj Singh Denise Abou Zeid The first of its kind in south Lebanon Hania Taan Senior editors Omar Aboud Editorial advisor A day with UNIFIL Joumana Sayegh Hassan Siklawi Andrea Tenenti Photographers Roxaneh Bazergan Jorge Aramburu Never too young to begin Production Benjamin Habada Ramin Francis Assadi Evans Adune Mohammad Hamze ‘Smart’ learning with fun

Al Janoub contact Working hard to keep the young Tel. +961 1 827 020 Email [email protected] +961 1 827 068 Fax +961 1 827 016

Except where identified by the copyright symbol ©, articles in Al Janoub may be reprinted without permission Opinion A tribute to UNIFIL 16 on condition that two copies of the publication containing the reprint are sent to the Editor-in-Chief of Al Janoub.

The logo ‘ ’ is a calligraphic representation Mayor’s word Bonded in humanity 17 of the word ‘Al Janoub’ in Arabic

Humanitarian Civil-Military Cooperation 18 Colour correction and printing in southern Lebanon

Disclaimer The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNIFIL concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city area or of its authorities, or concerning delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The views expressed do not necessarily represent the policies or positions of UNIFIL, nor does the citing of trade names or commercial processes constitute endorsement. Chronicle

Note: Since the June special issue of Al-Janoub did not feature the ‘Chronicle’, this edition covers events for the period March to August 2008. UNIFIL turns 30 Mine Action Day

On 4 April, on the occasion of the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, UNIFIL organised several mine risk education sessions and other activities across south Lebanon, in order to raise awareness about the problem and inform on preventive measures against the threat posed by mines and cluster bombs in the area. Since the end of the 2006 conflict unexploded ordnance and cluster munitions clearance On 19 March chroniclers the Lebanese government and our mission, we are extremely combined have led to 27 recorded an important armed forces, the diplomatic determined not only because civilian fatalities and 234 civilian landmark in the history of community, local mayors and of our capabilities but also injuries, as well as 14 mine UNIFIL as the peacekeeping community officials, as well as because we are supported by clearance fatalities (including mission completed 30 years the media. the people of the south who two UNIFIL peacekeeper) and of its establishment under UN know we are here to assist in Addressing the gathering, 39 mine clearance injuries. Security Council resolution ensuring security and stability Force Commander Major- Until the end of August 2008, 425 in 1978. To mark the for them.” occasion, a ceremony was General Graziano stressed UNIFIL demining teams had held at the Cenotaph in UNIFIL the full commitment of UNIFIL A photo and video exhibition cleared more than 5.2 million Headquarters in Naqoura, to perform its duties in close was organized to illustrate square metres of affected where the peacekeepers were cooperation with the Lebanese the three decades of UNIFIL’s land and destroyed more than joined by representatives from Armed Forces: “In performing presence in south Lebanon. 30,500 UXOs and mines in south Lebanon. New Deputy Force Commander 60 years of On 20 March UNIFIL several important command peacekeeping received a new Deputy Force and staff assignments in On 29 May, the International Commander. Brigadier-General operational areas. Day of UN Peacekeepers, Apurba Kumar Bardalai During 1991 -92, he served UNIFIL celebrated 60 years replaced his compatriot from as a Military Observer in the of peacekeeping operations the Indian Army Brigadier- United Nations Verification by the United Nations. General Jai Prakash Nehra, Mission in Angola. After who left UNIFIL after more Peacekeepers representing completing the Higher than two years of dedicated the 26 different national Command Course at the Army service in the mission. contingents of UNIFIL (28 War College, he served as countries as of today) attended Brigadier-General Bardalai Director of UN Peacekeeping at a ceremony held at the Mission was commissioned as the Indian Army Headquarters. headquarters in Naqoura. an Infantry Officer after A researcher and contributor to graduating from the National UN publications, seminars and Today, the United Nations Defence Academy in June other forums, he has authored has more than 110,000 1977. An alumnus of the a book: ‘Changing Security men and women deployed Defence Service Staff College, Scenario: Implications for UN in conflict zones around the Wellington, he has held peacekeeping’. world coming from nearly 120 countries. Of those Watering the fields of Khiam

On 1 July a UNIFIL project was completed in Khiam with the inauguration of a channel for irrigation of agricultural fields. The purpose of the project was to channel the Ain Abu Muzrab spring water and connect it through the Al Massil spring with the Dardara source. This newly constructed channel will not only prevent damage caused during the winter by rainwater to the nearby fields but will also supply the irrigation system in the area. The project was identified peacekeepers around 13,000 Maritime Task Force, and In these years, as many as 274 in consultation with the are serving with UNIFIL, supported by over 1,000 UNIFIL peacekeepers have laid municipal authorities as one including about 1,500 naval civilian international and local down their lives in the service of the infrastructure-related personnel of the UNIFIL staff. of peace in south Lebanon. priorities for the area. For the children of Chebaa The foot that came from Jaipur the active participation of its students and the local During July, UNIFIL’s Indian community. The event Battalion held a “Jaipur Foot” was attended by over 200 clinic at its base in Ebel Es Saqi people including the Mayor for providing artificial limbs to of Chebaa, Member of the handicapped. Parliament Kassem Hashem The clinic was run by a team as well as religious leaders. of eight experts from the ‘Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang The rehabilitation of the Sahayata Samiti’ (BMVSS), school’s courtyard will directly the world’s largest limb fitting benefit the 260 students of the society based in the Indian school including the children city of Jaipur. As many as with specific needs. 141 Lebanese nationals who The school was located in a had been injured in mine or dilapidated old building away cluster bomb explosions were On 28 June the Public The project initiated on from the centre of town. The provided with foot, hand and polio calipers. Elementary School in the request of the school poor state of infrastructure Chebaa village enhanced authorities, was sponsored posed safety hazard for The clinic is the fourth of its kind its infrastructure with by UNIFIL. students and teachers. The held in south Lebanon. The first refurbishment of the rehabilitation will contribute such camp was held in January schoolyard as well as the To celebrate its new facilities, to the development of the 2006. Since then a total of 366 staircases with the help of the school organized an educational facility in Chebaa patients have benefited from the UNIFIL. inaugural ceremony with in a more secure environment. ‘Jaipur Foot’ clinics.

6 7 Issue 03 Sep. 08 Issue 03 Sep. Chronicle

Soccer in Adshit Al Quasayr Joining festivities in Tyre

In July, the village of Adshit yard in the vicinity of the On 26 July, as the ‘South Randa Berri, UNIFIL Force Al Quasayr got its own mini municipality. and Tyre festival’ entered its Commander Major-General soccer field where the village second day, the organizers Claudio Graziano and Head of It required levelling and dedicated a cultural evening the Tyre Union of Municipalities youth could have their space strengthening of the ground, to UNIFIL. Abdel Mohsen al-Husseini. for recreational and physical resurfacing it with a layer of activities. artificial grass and providing Peacekeepers from Ghana At the end of the evening, The project undertaken a fence with metal poles and performed their traditional Mrs. Berri presented honorary by UNIFIL, involved the wire mesh. The work took cultural dances while the shields to Major-General rehabilitation of an existing three months to complete. Koreans put up a show of Graziano and commanders their martial arts and national of the participating UNIFIL A road to Beit Leif dance. In the framework contingents. of mine awareness the Addressing the gathering, On 6 July, UNIFIL inaugurated undertook to renovate the Italian contingent gave UNIFIL Force Commander a road in Beit Leif that had road. a demonstration of their stressed the importance of demining activities in the been freshly paved with UNIFIL At the inaugural site, a plaque such activities that “reinforce south of Lebanon. funding. with Lebanese and United cultural and humanitarian This customary route for Nations logos was put up by Among the dignitaries who relations between UNIFIL and local movements had been the Municipality of Beit Leif witnessed the evening’s the people of south Lebanon in a state of disrepair causing as a mark of appreciation for performances were the Head and reflect the true feeling of much inconvenience to the UNIFIL’s assistance to the of the National Committee for the locals, that they are living people. As such, UNIFIL project. the South and Tyre festivals in peace and security”.

Maritime Task Force changes Command On 1 September, the UNIFIL representatives from countries Maritime Task Force currently contributing troops to UNIFIL. led by the European Maritime Since the start of its operations Force (EUROMARFOR) on 15 October 2006, MTF has handed over the command hailed around 18,000 ships from Rear Admiral Ruggiero and referred more than150 Di Biase of Italy to Rear suspicious vessels to the Admiral Alain Hinden of France Lebanese authorities for (EUROMARFOR). further inspection. The ceremony took place So far 12 countries have aboard the flagship Scirocco contributed naval units to and was attended among others the MTF: Belgium, Bulgaria, by UNIFIL Force Commander Denmark, France, Germany, Major-General Claudio Graziano, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, EUROMARFOR Commander Norway, Spain, Sweden and Vice Admiral Giuseppe Lertora, Turkey. EUROMARFOR has senior Lebanese Armed been part of the MTF since Major-General Graziano addressing the ceremony Forces officers and diplomatic 29 February 2008. Inset: Rear Admirals Di Biase (left) and Hinden The first of its kind in south Lebanon As yet another round of destruction and ruin hit south Lebanon recently, people of all age groups were affected. However, as always children remain the ultimate victims of war. The 2006 war left them vulnerable to cluster bombs and unexploded ordnance. Their movements were severely restricted and their playgrounds or leisure centres destroyed.

UNIFIL’s Office of Civil Affairs played a crucial role in providing funding for the community centre and in bringing civil society organizations closer to the youth and the children.

International organizations and local for Lebanese Women and CLAC [Centre de UNICEF, Ayman Elrozz, highlights the variety authorities came together to try and Lecture et d’Animation Culturelle]. of activities targeting all social groups fill this gap created by the bombs and This led to the establishment of the first of including children, youth and the elderly, draw a smile on the faces of those who its kind community centre in Bent Jbeil. which he says is the essence of the project. mourned their loved ones or who lost UNIFIL’s Office of Civil Affairs played a Kosovo is one example where this method their means of livelihood. These efforts crucial role in providing funding for the was applied to fill the religious gap between may not compensate for all that was lost, community centre and in bringing civil the Muslim and Christian communities but can create a better life and bring relief society organizations closer to the youth through a range of common activities. to the people, according to Eva Farhat, and the children. Hassan Jooni, Director of the Cultural Coordinator for an Italian organization Movement Centre in Bent Jbeil, a part of [Intersos] working in Bent Jbeil. The opening ceremony was attended by the Qa’imaqam of Bent Jbeil Casa the Steering Committee, emphasizes the Bent Jbeil has been a focus of attention Ibrahim Darwish, Head of Bent Jbeil importance of activities in the community from a large number of NGOs and Municipality Afif Bazzi who also heads the centre at a time when the country is going international organizations that have Union of Municipalities in the area, Colonel through an unprecedented struggle, instituted programs designed to help in Tiebo representing UNIFIL’s Sector West particularly those that go beyond the Bent the recovery of destroyed areas. To avoid Command, representatives of different Jbeil Casa. Citing the Cultural Movement’s duplication and better coordinate their municipalities, local and international NGOs support for the “Holy Mary” play held efforts, the Italian organization ‘Intersos’ as well as UN agencies such as UNICEF. in Rmeych in memory of Francois El brought together all the NGOs working in Hajj (Lebanese Army General who was Bent Jbeil under a ‘Steering Committee’ Ola Bazzi is one of the girls frequenting assassinated recently), Jooni extols the supervised by the municipality. the community centre of Bent Jbeil. She general idea of such events. The Steering Committee includes the Bent believes that it is a social responsibility to address the psychological damages The Steering Committee carries a Jbeil municipality, Intersos, Risala Islamic message for Bent Jbeil’s organizations: Scout, Imam Mahdi Scout, Lebanese Scout caused by conflict, which are known to reappear a year after the war. Through the that they must work together to organize (St Gerges in Rmeych), the school for joint activities, towards the higher goal of children with special needs in Ayta Elchaab, community centre she hopes to contribute to child enabling and help deliver the a civil society united in the welfare of the as well as the Bent Jbeil chapters of ‘The people. Cultural Movement’, ‘Developmental children and all those affected by the Services Centre’, the Red Cross Social tragedy from its consequences. Samer Haydar Services Section, UNDP, the Association Director of the Intersos project financed by Intersos National Coordinator

8 9 Issue 03 Sep. 08 Issue 03 Sep. Youth

“You have been invited to spend a day with UNIFIL in Naqoura.” The surprise announcement by our A day School Director filled us with UNIFIL with nervous excitement… Children are a vital subject of UNIFIL’s interface with the local population, whether in community events or school visits by peacekeepers who conduct a range of educational and recreational activities. But on 26 February, UNIFIL headquarters had a youthful interlude of a third kind. A group of 16 students, nine girls and seven boys from four different schools of south Lebanon, came to spend a day at the Naqoura base, not for any grand ceremony, but to participate in the routine daily activities of the mission. The idea originated from the convictions of sentiments expressed, we put together logistics base where the Italian security UNIFIL’s Civil Affairs Officer Rola Bzeih. As below excerpts from their writings… contingent had put up a display of their equipment such as night vision binoculars a resident of south Lebanon who grew up “You have been invited to spend a day and flak jackets. We also got to enter watching peacekeepers, Rola had always with UNIFIL in Naqoura.” The surprise armoured personnel carriers. The Polish been curious about UNIFIL. Now being announcement by our School Director soldiers then gave an impressive fire- part of it, she sensed similar inquisitiveness filled us with nervous excitement: what fighting demonstration. about the mission among young students on earth would we do there, we wondered. from the area. The best way to have them We were eager to find out. UNIFIL has been playing a very understand UNIFIL’s mandate and activities As we got off our van at Naqoura to join important role in trying to clear the would be to get them direct exposure of southern Lebanese lands of mines the mission’s work. a larger group of students from three other schools, the heart-warming reception and cluster bombs and the French Rola pursued her idea with some local immediately put us at ease. We were contingent showed us how difficult and school authorities. The School Directors- escorted into a conference room where dangerous this job can be. They gave us Mr. Mahmoud Ghazzal/Abbassyeh our name cards were placed around a big a mine awareness lesson and did some Government High School, Mr. Hassan u-shaped table. Two officers from Italy and demining demonstrations when we also Ezzedine/Tyre Mixed Government High Spain introduced us to UNIFIL’s activities. handled some of the equipment. School, Mr. Hussein Chibli/Marouhine High From there we moved to see UNIFIL’s School and Mr. Georges Shoufani/Rmaysh From there we moved to the ITALAIR multimedia activities. The photographer Government High School – responded base where UNIFIL helicopter pilots showed us the use of digital photography positively to her invitation and agreed to briefed us on their mission and showed while the video producer introduced us to send four students each to visit UNIFIL and us inside a helicopter. Just then a the world of video production and editing. then share their experiences back in school. helicopter approached for landing and out came the UNIFIL Force Commander The wrap-up session was with the Director The enthusiasm of the visitors was palpable. Major General Claudio Graziano. He of Political and Civil Affairs who talked to us By the end of the day they had turned into walked up to welcome us and we took about our experience of the day. To top it, little ambassadors of peace eager to spread photos with him. a mock press conference was organised the message of UNIFIL in their schools and where we acted as journalists asking neighbourhoods. Nada Al-Houssaini from It was then time for lunch at the Italian questions about UNIFIL that were answered Abbassyeh as well as the four students from cafeteria where we were joined by several by the Chief of Public Information. Tyre -Amira Schoceir, Somaya Moussa, peacekeepers. We shared a special table Bilal Baroud and Ali Abu-Khalil- wrote with the Force Commander and had an Fond memories of this day will remain to ‘Al Janoub’ with separate accounts of enjoyable conversation with him. forever etched in our hearts, as will the their day with UNIFIL. Finding an amazing After lunch we walked on a guided tour special relationship we now share with commonality in their narrations and the of Naqoura camp and came to the Polish UNIFIL peacekeepers. Conferencing

A Day with UNIFIL On 26 February, a group of 16 students from four different schools of south Lebanon visited UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura for ‘A Day Dressed to save with UNIFIL’ -ref. article on page 9.

On 25 April a similar visit was organised for a group of 20 disabled children in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Affairs.

Heli pose

Lunch with Force Commander

10 11 Issue 03 Sep. 08 Issue 03 Sep. Photo feature

Ready to fly

The programme combined informative sessions on UNIFIL’s mandate and activities with such thrilling experiences as getting inside helicopters and Armoured

Personnel Carriers, lunch with Fire fighting demo the Force Commander, learning about film-making/editing, use of demining equipments and a live fire-fighting demonstration. Some images…

Mine safety briefing

Looking out an APC “Besides teaching them how to draft and present Never too small project proposals, the workshops have also shown the youth how to communicate young to begin better with the municipality.” “We finally have a place where we can come together, talk freely and plan all the projects we aspire for,” said Zaynab Mahdi, a Naqoura resident, during the inauguration of the Youth Club in Naqoura. The club was built by the NGO ‘Nabaa’ in cooperation with Naqoura Municipality and within the framework of the youth enabling project financed by UNIFIL.

“We particularly benefited from the practical application of our ideas and problem solving exercises. We have gained in self confidence.”

The project covered the five southern Wanting to have a say in community thanks to the active assistance of the villages of Rmeych, Alma El Chaab, Yarin, matters that concern them, Naqoura’s municipalities, the Red Cross, local Naqoura and Dayr Qanun an Nahr, targeting youth felt the need for a safe place where organizations and schools. They have 120 youth between 14 and 25 years of age they could freely interact and strengthen also joined youth representatives to form during December 2007 to March 2008. The their role in decision making. Hence the a local committee that will follow up on main goals of the project are to alleviate Youth Club of Naqoura. the projects to ensure their continuity. the problems and stress experienced by Voluntary work and building youth capacity Maroun Amil from Rmeych said: villagers, primarily the youth, and reinforcing for a more effective role in society was their role in decision making and the daily “We learned how to draft a project the goal of the youth in Rmeych. Their activities within their local communities. proposal and we are now communicating project therefore mainly focused on better with the municipality without inhibitions.” The youth were apprised of their rights and equipping their local Scouts that would duties and introduced to communication in turn organize educational, social, The Deputy Chief of Yarin municipality and crisis management skills. They also got environmental and artistic activities. expressed his satisfaction: “Besides a glimpse of the social and developmental teaching them how to draft and present Scouts activities also interested the youth role that UNIFIL is playing in south Lebanon. small project proposals, the workshops of Dayr Qanun an Nahr who decided have also shown the youth how to “We particularly benefited from the to support the Scouts in their town with communicate better with the municipality.” practical application of our ideas and musical instruments and by forming problem solving exercises. We have gained a theatre group. His counterpart from Naqoura in self confidence,” said young Ibrahim municipality, Adnan Hamze, agreed. The group from Alma El Chaab chose El Asaad from Yarin town. Magui Gabi “This project brought the youth closer sports. Their high school students come Farah from Alma El Chaab considered the to the municipality,” he said, drawing from neighbouring villages and belong training as a foundation for the youth to attention to the temptations that distract to different confessional groups. Sports play an effective role in their community. the youth away from public service. activities would enhance interactions The training workshops culminated in an among them. The benefits from almost all the projects exercise where participants had to list the extended beyond the immediate village In Yarin they felt sports would reduce problems facing their respective villages or community to reach their neighbours. delinquency and help bring the youth closer and then draft a funding project proposal Some like Tura and Tayr Debba have together. So they opted to equip their for the most pressing need they identified. requested similar projects for their youth. Each group came up with novel ways to football team and the town playground. address their unique local needs. The projects were easily executed Imad Abed Razek - ‘Nabaa’

12 13 Issue 03 Sep. 08 Issue 03 Sep. Youth ‘Smart’ learning with fun Tallusah is a quiet village in the hills of south Lebanon with about one thousand inhabitants. A hot summer day, with the men mostly away at work and the women and children indoors sheltering from the heat, the silence is broken by the hum of white UN vehicles approaching the village.

It is a group of peacekeepers from the the children. “The internet connection will Yudhoyono, in order to motivate and UNIFIL Indonesian Battalion (INDOBATT) provide up-to-date information that would facilitate the Lebanese children to study that the villagers are so familiar with. broaden their thoughts.” outside their school,” said Lt Col A. M. Putranto, the INDOBATT Commander, As the visitors make their way to the Nine year old Sabrina enjoys reading, the “It helps alleviate the trauma these village meeting place and quietly go joy evident in her beautiful blue eyes as children have suffered from during the about converting it into an improvised they scan through the wide range of history recent war.” playground, a sudden flurry of activity is and documentary books the car offers. generated with children running in from “My friends and I wait for the blue car every A unique medium of interaction with all directions to join the fun. week,” she says, “We like to spend time local children, the Smart Car has a The visitors are not new to Tallusah and here after school.” variety of games and toys combined the children know precisely what to with educational material and multimedia expect: a fun learning experience with equipment such as television, DVD player, lots of toys, books and multimedia games The Smart Car provides computer, Play Station, etc. The car covers that come in a blue coloured ‘mystery’ a unique learning and 11 villages that fall within the INDOBATT van named the ‘Smart Car’. area of responsibility, periodically visiting recreational opportunity in Ghandouriyah, Al Qantarah, Adshit Al “Hooray….it’s coming”, shouts six year old Qusayr, Et Taibe, Deir Sirriane, Al Aadaisse, Fatima, clapping her hands. She and her a child friendly environment. Markabe, Bani Hayyan, Rabbat Tallame, friends enjoy playing with the Indonesian Al Qusayr and Tallusah. soldiers who have interesting educational The Smart Car has been designed to games for them. support a range of activities that are carried The Smart Car provides a unique out by UNIFIL’s Indonesian Battalion in learning and recreational opportunity in “We are very pleased and thankful for the a child friendly environment. To date, the presence of the Smart Car,” says Mrs. conjunction with other initiatives like First Aid lessons, medical and other assistance programme has reached about 1,500 Tamam, as she escorts her daughter to children and youth. the play area. She hopes for an internet to the local communities. connection in the ‘Smart Car’ that would “The Smart Car was initiated by the Captain Sandy Maulana Prakasa greatly enhance the learning experience for First Lady of Indonesia, Madam Ani UNIFIL Indonesian Battalion Working hard to keep the young The Lebanon head of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Roberto Laurenti has been in the country for five years now, working to ensure health, education, equality and protection for every child through the destructive interlude of the 2006 conflict. In an interview for ‘Al Janoub’, he shared with Neeraj Singh his perspective on the concerns and aspirations of the young people of Lebanon, particularly in the context of UNICEF’s work in south Lebanon. Excerpts…

Could you briefly explain the mission focused on vaccinating every child in all It is important immediately to recreate of UNICEF in Lebanon? districts in Lebanon. the conditions for children to be able Our main goal is to translate the principles to express themselves, to try to mitigate In the field of Water and Sanitation: listed in the Convention on the Rights of the the nefarious effects of what they had In partnership with the Lebanon Water Child into deeds. We work hand in hand to experience. Authorities, UNICEF supported the with the government and NGO’s to identify construction and rehabilitation of major the priority areas where still there are How do you achieve this? water schemes destroyed during the vacuums or chronic inabilities to translate We introduced 25 “child friendly spaces” conflict, including construction or those principles into deeds. The impact of here in the south (a concept introduced by rehabilitation of seven elevated water the war in Lebanon had direct and indirect UNICEF in Kosovo) where kids had access tanks giving back water to more than consequences on vulnerable groups, to basic services like education, health, 380,000 people in addition to improving especially children and women. UNICEF recreation and psychosocial assistance. In sanitary facilities and safe water supplies Lebanon has supported a number of key fact recreation and psychosocial assistance in 87 schools, and water community go hand in hand. Through play, you provide activities in the field of health, water and schemes in 12 villages. sanitation, education, protection and youth the children an opportunity to find back issues. One of the key challenges facing In the field of Education: In partnership some degree of normalcy whilst enabling the children of Lebanon is that even as with the Ministry of Education, UNICEF the social workers to better identify reconstruction progresses, they are living in is supporting the “Child Friendly School those kids in need of more specialized the shadow of internal political instability. Initiative” in some 100-targeted schools assistance. We collaborated with a large through an integrated approach combining number of NGOs to set up child friendly How has UNICEF worked in south rehabilitation of schools, Health/ Nutrition spaces in Tyre, Khiam, Marjayoun and Lebanon through the 2006 conflict and Hygiene education while supporting elsewhere across south Lebanon. We also and after? extra-curricula activities in literacy and helped in the creation of Child Protection UNICEF worked even during the occupation remedial classes. Networks reaching 71 villages (over 65,000 in the south. Since the end of the July 2006 persons) and train on psycho-social In the field of Child Protection: A priority war, in partnership with the government support and conflict resolution. has been to make available psychosocial and NGOs, UNICEF continued working support to children affected by war. It is And what about the schools? on improving the well-being of women easy to see a bridge that was destroyed, We did the ‘Back to School’ campaign all and children in priority areas of health, or a water tank bombarded. But you do across Lebanon. According to government water and sanitation, education and child not see so easily the damages that are assessments, between 40 and 50 schools protection including mine risk education. inflicted emotionally and psychologically, were completely destroyed during the UNICEF inputs focused on the war affected especially on the children, from having war, while around 300 suffered partial area in the south but also on under-served lived through a series of trauma: being damage. On the other hand, many families districts in six Governorates in Lebanon. bombarded, displaced, finding relatives lost everything including also books. So In the field of Health, UNICEF interventions killed or handicapped, and so on. we provided schools with 7,000 School-

14 15 Issue 03 Sep. 08 Issue 03 Sep. Interview

Mr. Laurenti at Aansariyeh Public School in southern Lebanon to mark the children's return to school Mineral water bottles designed for mine risk awareness campaign. in-a-Box kits, each containing enough of 16,000 households, will better capture two groups, one in Maarake near Tyre materials to run a classroom. At the the specific needs of families living in the and another in Saida. Of course the same time we provided children 400,000 most vulnerable communities. This will be south group, and especially Maarake, schools bags with stationery distributed the largest survey ever done in Lebanon are very concerned about post-conflict across the country so all children could and will help the policy makers and the issues, such as mine risk education, return to school by October 2006, just two social actors in this country to better tailor peace and stability. But once you offer months after the war ended. their policy to respond to the most urgent the kids the chance to vent their pre- needs. occupations, they all ultimately speak What is your assessment of the the same language irrespective of what progress made so far? What do you think are the priorities geographical region they come from. I have never experienced myself, both in for the youth in Lebanon and the countries where I have served before particularly in the south? How can UNIFIL contribute to your and also where I come from, such a rapid In Lebanon youth have greatly suffered work in south Lebanon? response in overcoming the problems- from the side effects of civil war and We are fine tuning the good work we did the bridges, the roads, houses in the unrest which affected their immediate together. Bent Jbeil community centre is south, everything was fixed. Indeed, there or future life. In addition, tolerance, an example where each of us, including was generous support of partners and education and citizenship (as opposed to the local authorities and civil society, countries, but without the determination confessional divide) transpire very strongly contributed a little to achieve a bigger of the Lebanese to overcome the as the issues of fundamental concern to success. That is I think the way to go. Lebanese adolescence and youth. adversities it would have been impossible After the conflict UNICEF, like many to achieve this in such a short time. Of Unfortunately, all these factors contribute other actors in the social arena, received course scars remain; the destruction was to growing disillusionment by young substantial amount of resources. But now such that it was humanly impossible to Lebanese who too often feel their place that the resources are diminishing, we rebuild completely so soon, but the basic could be abroad and hence opt for need to be much more strategic in the infrastructure was restored in record time. migrating for career stability. way we use them. UNIFIL contributes a Now for us it is important to better measure Aware of this very important aspect, lot to re-establish normalcy. This is where where the country really stands in terms of UNICEF Lebanon country office and if we can get together in co-sharing some all social services. For this reason, under the first TV station LBCI are producing of the needs that must be addressed. the patronage of the Prime Minister, we “Sawtna” or voices of youth, a unique Ultimately, the municipality is very recently launched a multi-cluster survey TV programme of its kind not only important. We can provide the basic to determine access to and effectiveness in Lebanon but in the Arab region. start-up resources to build-up a model of social services and other development Broadcasted twice a week on LBCI, the of reference. This should then be indicators that have an impact on the programme is produced by 50 youth, sustained by the municipalities once wellbeing of children.. This year’s survey is aged 1620- years, reaching around they understand that this is in the particularly significant, as the sample size 400,000 people. In the South we have best interest of their constituency. Opinion

I remember [in the mid-1980s] having my morning coffee every Friday in the UNIFIL A Office at Tyre. Here I would get my weekly gift of UN reports related to UNIFIL that helped me analyze information on the situation in the area, tribute the implementation of UN resolution 425 and the deployment of the Lebanese Army. I would also carry messages to and from Minister Nabih to Berri, who later became the Lebanese Parliament Speaker. Those messages pertained to UNIFIL’s UNIFIL mission and the situation in its Area of Operations. We cannot forget the humanitarian role see residents taking language courses played by UNIFIL, which has always been provided by certain UNIFIL battalions to a sanctuary for the locals during periods of enhance mutual understanding. I have also war and occupation, for issues related to contributed to some of these programmes. their safety and medical well-being, social I had the honour to be a member of problems, or services for their villages. the Lebanese Committee for Tyre and We acknowledge that while UNIFIL South Lebanon Festival, which organized with its limited powers cannot prevent many activities in collaboration with, or the occurrence of wars and conflict, it especially for, UNIFIL. Among those was has done the impossible in minimizing the Mass held at the square of Qana’s suffering and damages. Cave and the celebration on 26 July in During long years of perseverance and which many Lebanese folkloric groups, patient suffering, which UNIFIL has and some UNIFIL groups, participated. witnessed, the Lebanese were able Today, as relations with UNIFIL continue to reclaim their lands and liberate the within the framework of coordination, occupied border area, except for Shebaa cultural exchange and personal friendship, Farms and the Hills of Kfar Shouba. I am sure that our endeavours will continue During those long years -30 years- UNIFIL to strengthen the cultural relations in itself suffered many casualties. We will their various hues. We are confident always remember the sacrifice of those about reclaiming Lebanese sovereignty "UNIFIL has done the peacekeepers. over Shebaa Farms and the Hills of Kfar Shouba. We are also certain that UNIFIL impossible in minimizing Later on, in 2006, UNIFIL started its mission in accordance with Resolution will be successful in its mission to support suffering and damages... 1701. This renewed deployment followed the Lebanese army in order that the we continue to have good a bloody war that caused much suffering Lebanese State can assert its control over in Lebanon, producing hundreds of victims its territories. relations with UNIFIL based and wounded. The infrastructure – UNIFIL will also be successful in on friendly and humanitarian transportation, telephone and water supply guaranteeing security and regional stability, networks – was destroyed, in addition to because the Lebanese have proved considerations." the complete seizure of Beirut’s airport and that forceful means will not make them seaport operations. succumb or accept any infringement on the security and sovereignty of UNIFIL had no complaints about any All of Lebanon welcomed UN resolution their country. disturbances or hindrances to its mission 1701, particularly because it took into on account of the Amal Movement, which consideration Lebanon’s demands We sadly remember UNIFIL’s victims, and back then was practically in control of the that ended hostilities and provided a we trust that coordination between the area, both politically and militarily, due to basis for us to work together with the locals, the Lebanese Army and UNIFIL, the absence of the Lebanese State. The United Nations with the aim to achieve a combined with political and security excellent cooperation between UNIFIL, the permanent ceasefire and lasting peace in alertness, will prevent any occurrence of Amal Movement and the locals ensured the area. terrorist acts in UNIFIL’s Area of Operations that any incident or dispute was resolved and in all Lebanese territories. Again, we continue to have good within minutes just with one telephone call. relations with UNIFIL based on friendly Bilal Sharara My friendship with my interlocutors in UNIFIL and humanitarian considerations. For Mr. Sharara, a resident of Bent Jbeil, is Secretary has since grown from strength to strength. example, it makes me very happy to General for Foreign Affairs in the Lebanese Parliament.

16 17 . 08 Issue 03 Sep . Mayor's Word Bonded in humanity In the beginning of 1992 I came into close contact with UNIFIL, particularly its Media Office, for professional reasons in my capacity as a journalist. From that date on, a close relationship was established between myself and the UNIFIL team working from Tyre. Our relations were built on mutual respect, where sometimes a simple greeting was enough, as my knowledge of the English language is very basic.

I will not praise or glorify the role of UNIFIL, level of inter-marriages. but several factual realities of UNIFIL’s Four years ago, I was elected as a member undertaking “paved the road to the hearts of the Municipal Council of Teir Debba, of the locals”, an expression used by the located seven kilometres from the city of UN. Those locals in their times of hardship Tyre, comprising six thousand residents and have found the blue helmets, whether providing a safe haven for its inhabitants. white or black skinned, by their side. This feeling, which we touched upon in our In the aftermath of the July 2006 war, the media coverage of events, manifested itself reinforced UNIFIL forces arriving in south in soldiers escorting tobacco and olive Lebanon under resolution 1701 commenced farmers to their fields and providing help their efforts to assist in offsetting the impact in moving their crops at a time when they of this war. Our town’s share was a simple were forbidden to visit their fields due to assistance provided by the Italian Forces, continuous Israeli shelling. as they rehabilitated a Medical Dispensary inside our Municipal building. This is best described as “El Hashke” (sense of communal togetherness), a term One year later, coinciding with my election frequently used by our locals, who know as Head of the Municipal Council, the well how to return favours to soldiers South Korean troops came to participate coming from the far corners of the world under the UNIFIL Command. It was an A view of Teir Debba and sharing with them the tragedies honour for us to have its Headquarters at the equipping of a computer class and of war: sustaining many wounded and the entrance of our peaceful town. For one other projects. This support continued martyrs, sharing their food with refugees year now, we have had excellent relations with the arrival of new soldiers under the in the Fijian camp at Qana in 1996 with the officers and soldiers of the Korean leadership of Colonel Kang Chan Ek who and collecting the remains of victims in battalion. The speed with which relations undertook important projects including Merwahin, El Mansouri and other towns. between the Koreans, our municipal council and the locals have been established was a Taekwondo club, a support wall and When one travels to another country, he thanks partly to our wish to embrace those equipment for the public school. counts the hours and days to finish his coming from the Far East to assist our Indeed, our love and appreciation for the work and return home to rejoin his family country and to the support provided by Korean peacekeepers is not based on and loved ones. But UN soldiers, who are the Koreans to our municipal council and this support, much needed though it is. no different in their emotions from others, subsequently to our town. Rather, our appreciation and gratefulness shed tears when their mission in south goes beyond that, to the relationship Lebanon is complete and time comes to Numerous projects were undertaken by of brothers in humanity that ultimately return home. This is not because they do the Koreans under the leadership of the defines our utmost love for UNIFIL and not miss their families, but rather because previous Commander Colonel Kim Ang. its soldiers. they have to leave their second families Our town benefited from the paving of who embraced them and afforded them three major and important roads, the Hussein Saad their affection and protection, reaching the establishment of a park for children, Journalist and Head of the Municipality of Teir Debba Issue 03 Sep. 08 30,409 persons havereceived treatment important elementofit.Ingeneral terms, medical andveterinarycare constitutean CIMIC initiativesbeingneed-driven, urgent needsofthelocalpopulation. engineering ordeminingassets, toaddress uses evenoperationalresources, suchas in humanitarianprojects. OftenUNIFIL initiatives, asfrom UNIFIL’s investment from individualornationalhumanitarian varied forms.Theseemanateasmuch the nature ofCIMICactivitieshastaken all possibleassistancetothepeople, battalions havemultipliedefforts toextend Even astheCIMICunitsindifferent UNIFIL or heard abouther. among soldierswhohadneverseenher generated asenseofsolidarityforRola of southLebanon.ItistheCIMICspiritthat between thepeacekeepersandpeople units are providing ahumanitarianinterface UNIFIL’s Civil-MilitaryCooperation(CIMIC) Rola’s caseisjustoneexampleofhow services untilhercompleterecovery. authorised theprovision of ambulatory hospital, UNIFIL’s Belgianmilitaryhospital Social Security. Oncereleased from of hertreatment covered byLebanese Lebanese authoritiestohavethecost Spanish officialsinBeirutapproached immediate medicalcare she needed. The moneywassufficienttogetherthe over fivethousanddollarstoassistRola. the Sectormadeavoluntarycollectionof On hisinitiative,peacekeepersservingin took ituponhimselftosavelittleRola. was somovedbythetragedythathe Carlos, acookattheSpanishcompound, not affordit.UNIFILcametoherhelp. treatment wassoexpensivethatthefamilycould critical state,runninghightemperatures,andher part ofherbody.wasina burns toalargeShe when boilingwaterfellonher,causingsevere victim ofanaccidentlastApril an unfortunate villageof ElMeriinsouthernLebanon.was She in the Rolawholives girl called is alittle There in southernLebanon Civil-Military Cooperation 18 19

(1 project) and publicservices(3Projects). water andsanitation(4projects), health (3 projects), infrastructure (17projects), following mainareas education ofconcern: Quick ImpactProjects haveaddressed the During June2007to2008,the resources available. across thesectorswithinoverall proper balanceintheinvestmentsmade communities. Care istakentomaintain to meetthemostimpendingneedsof implement QuickImpactProjects designed UNIFIL’s CIMICandCivilAffairs office Lebanon. southern and otherskillshavebeentaughtacross attending. LikewiseTaekwondo, knitting 13 placeswithmore than200students Computer classeshavebeenheldin and Indonesian. courses inEnglish,Spanish,French, Italian students havebenefitedfrom language and duringthelastyearasmany600 number ofattractivelanguageprograms languages. UNIFILBattalionsdevisea diverse people ofsouthLebanontolearn provide auniqueopportunity forthe multiple languagesspokenbyUNtroops folklore withtheLebanese people.The their respective nationalcustoms and peacekeepers haveproceeded toshare education andculture, as UNIFIL into suchareas associalwelfare, The assistanceprovided hasexpanded when 2,131animalswere treated. summer monthsofJulyandAugust2007 reached itspeakcoverage duringthe during thelastyear. Veterinary assistance in different medicalcampsheldbyUNIFIL CIMIC Team /UNIFILHeadquarters You cancountonusintimesofneed. to more than150persons. and Dirdgahyya, providing tentsandbeds most severely affected locationsofShhur UNIFIL CIMICpromptly responded tothe on theRichterscaleshooksouthLebanon, in Februaryanearthquakemeasuring5.4 many otherforms.Forexample,when Support tocommunitiesisprovided in roads andsoon. materials toschools,pavingofdamaged municipal parks,provision ofeducational refurbishing ofschools,reconstruction of provided bywayofpowergenerators, Material supporttocommunitieshasbeen Little Rola Humanitarian Lebanon. and thepeopleofsouth between thepeacekeepers a humanitarianinterface (CIMIC) unitsare providing Cooperation Civil-Military example ofhow UNIFIL’s Rola’s caseisjustone The International Day of Peace: Human Rights & Peacekeeping

The International Day of Peace was established relationship between peace and human rights, which by the United Nations General Assembly in 1981 are increasingly recognized as inseparable. In the for “commemorating and strengthening the ideals aftermath of World War II, world leaders acknowledged of peace within and among all nations and people”. that “disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts” and have prevented the Twenty years later, the General Assembly set 21 “advent of a world in which human beings shall September as the date to observe the occasion annually enjoy…freedom from fear and want”. as a “day of global ceasefire and non-violence… through education and public awareness and to cooperate in the Today, we are still struggling to achieve this vision. establishment of a global ceasefire”. Too many conflicts, from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to conflicts in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and On 21 September, the International Day of Peace, I call on world leaders and peoples around the world to join forces against conflict, Darfur, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the poverty and hunger, and for all human rights for all. Congo, cause unnecessary loss of life and have a UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon devastating impact on the structures that maintain societies, such as education, health and justice This year, as we commemorate the 60th anniversary systems and the maintenance of law and order. of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as the 60th anniversary of UN peacekeeping, Read more about the International Day of Peace and the Day offers an opportunity to spotlight the crucial how you can contribute at www.peaceday2008.org 21 September International Day of Peace

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