RMF provides the Municipality of Zgharta with 2 waste collection trucks, funded by the UNOCHA – Lebanon Humanitarian Fund.

Moawad: “Enough of confessional mobilization and exploitation. We have seen where this led us to. Development should unite us.”

The Executive Director of the Rene Moawad Foundation, Michel Moawad, said that “the right of diversity of opinion is legitimate to all, but Development must bring us all together and unite us.” He pointed out that “Development is not for the benefit of any individual amongst us. Development is for all of us… for our children, and for the future of Zgharta.” He stressed: “I have a firm belief that Zgharta deserves from all us to put aside all our differences and sensitivities to put all our energy for the service of Zgharta.” He added: “Enough of confessional mobilization and exploitation. We have seen where this led us to, and where it led our whole region. Wouldn’t it be so great if we all focused our energies for the development of Zgharta? Zgharta’s interest unites us. Zgharta needs all of us.”

Moawad’s speech came on the occasion of an event organized by the Municipality of Zgharta-Ehden and the Rene Moawad Foundation at the Municipality’s quarters, during which the Foundation provided the Municipality with two waste collection trucks. This was within the framework of the ‘Bringing Adequate Sanitation Infrastructure in Zgharta and Mejdlaya’ project, funded by the United Nations Office of Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA – Lebanon Humanitarian Fund).

The event was attended by the Zgharta Caemmakam Ms. Iman Al Rafii, the Rene Moawad Foundation’s Executive Director Michel Moawad, the Mayor of Zgharta-Ehden Dr. Cesar Bassim along with members of the Municipal Council, the head of the Humanitarian Fund for Lebanon at the United Nations Office of Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs Ms. Rawad Zeer and the office’s Financial Director Abdo Sadaka. Also present were mayors and members of municipal councils, social, educational and cultural dignitaries, and a crowd of citizens from Zgharta-Zawiyat.

The event ended by Mayor Cesar Bassim offering souvenir shields to Ms. Rawad Zeer and Mr. Michel Moawad, after he officially received the two trucks. Souvenir group photos were then taken and everyone was invited for a concluding reception.

Details of the project
The Rene Moawad Foundation’s team had conducted a preliminary assessment on the various sectors, which had detected the needs of the town. This work was done in coordination with the Municipality of Zgharta-Ehden. The assessment showed a lack in waste collection trucks, especially with the increased amount of waste resulting from the large number of displaced refugees, scattered in the various neighborhoods and corners of the town.

The duration of the project is 12 months. The Rene Moawad Foundation will be implementing it with the Municipality of Zgharta-Ehden. The targeted groups are: The people living in Zgharta, 3000 Syrian refugees, 1000 students in 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th grades, 9 schools (6 public schools and 3 semi-free schools. 2 of these schools are in Mejdlaya and 7 in Zgharta).

The overall objective of the ‘Bringing Adequate Sanitation Infrastructure in Zgharta and Mejdlaya’ project is to reduce the conflict between the Syrian refugees and the hosting communities in the targeted communities, in matters related to sanitation and infrastructure. More specifically, the goal is to support and improve the capacities of the municipalities that are hosting refugees, by funding development projects for the municipalities that address infrastructure, sanitation, rain water and waste issues.

In particular, the main activities of the project are:
– Providing two trucks for waste collection
– Holding awareness seminars
– Distributing guiding manuals on water, sanitation and hygiene – Conflict resolution at schools
– Distributing hygiene kits to 1,000 students in the targeted schools.

RMF launches a project for establishing a sewage network in Mejdlaya, funded by the United Nation's OCHA - Lebanon Humanitarian Fund
Hygiene kits distribution under the UN-OCHA LHF funded project

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