Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visits soldiers at the Miguel de Cervantes base in the southern Lebanese town of Marjayoun. AFP
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visits soldiers at the Miguel de Cervantes base in the southern Lebanese town of Marjayoun. AFP
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visits soldiers at the Miguel de Cervantes base in the southern Lebanese town of Marjayoun. AFP
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visits soldiers at the Miguel de Cervantes base in the southern Lebanese town of Marjayoun. AFP

Spanish PM emphasises support for Unifil during Lebanon visit after death of Irish soldier


Jamie Prentis
  • English
  • Arabic

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has emphasised his support for the UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon after an Irish soldier was killed in the country this month.

Mr Sanchez made the comments after holding talks with Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miktati during a visit to Beirut.

Spain is one of the largest contributors to the peacekeeping mission, with 664 troops from the country stationed in Lebanon.

Unifil commander Maj Gen Aroldo Lazaro is Spanish.

Mr Sanchez repeated his country's "willingness to support the work of Unifil" in southern Lebanon.

His visit to Beirut comes two weeks after Irish peacekeeper Pvt Sean Rooney, 24, was killed when his convoy came under fire.

Investigations into the killing are under way and a suspect has reportedly been handed over to the army.

The shooting happened in the village of Al Aqbiya, where Iran-backed Hezbollah is highly influential. The group denies involvement in the attack.

Mr Mikati told Mr Sanchez that the Lebanese authorities would not hesitate to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Mr Sanchez also visited Spanish soldiers at the Miguel de Cervantes base in Marjayoun, southern Lebanon.

“Your participation in this United Nations mission in Lebanon is a tangible expression of our country's contribution to world peace,” he told the soldiers.

“Your daily effort is aimed at providing well-being to the entire Lebanese society.

"With your work you contribute to saving lives, to improve the present and future of the Lebanese and, above all, to give a horizon of an expectation of peace to the new generations of Lebanese.”

French Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu is expected in Lebanon on Friday to show his support for the country's peacekeepers.

About 11,000 UN peacekeepers are stationed in Lebanon, where the interim force has overseen a ceasefire with Israel.

More than 300 Unifil troops have been killed since 1978.

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

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Where to donate in the UAE

The Emirates Charity Portal

You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.

The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments

The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.

Al Noor Special Needs Centre

You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.

Beit Al Khair Society

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Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.

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On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.

Gulf for Good

Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.

Noor Dubai Foundation

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).

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Updated: December 29, 2022, 1:55 PM