Resident Coordinator's Remarks at the inauguration event of Markazouna Community Centre

Your Excellency Mr. Magoshi Masayuki, Ambassador of Japan to Lebanon,

Mr. Ahmad Kamareddine, Mayor of Tripoli,

Ms. Mehrnaz Mostafavi, Chief of the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security, 

Esteemed members of the media, partners, and colleagues, 

Good morning to all, 

I’m very happy to be back here, but this time to inaugurate the Markazouna Community Center and see it fully rehabilitated and transformed to serve members of the communities. This Center is part of a joint UN-Habitat, UNICEF, and UN Women project, and mainly aims to improve social cohesion and stability in this large and densely populated Shalfeh area. 

As Lebanon continues to face multiple crises and struggles to meet basic needs amid an erosion of trust and dialogue that threatens the fragile stability in this area, such initiatives become crucial to give people a space to forget their worries, learn new skills, benefit from protection services, and interact with one another. 

This was proven in the ‘Abjad Centre’, a vibrant and friendly community center accessed by both Jabal Mohsen and Tebbaneh neighborhoods, which was also rehabilitated by the three UN agencies and benefitted thousands of people, through a myriad of activities orchestrated by different local NGOs. 

The role of UN-Habitat, UNICEF, UN Women, and the wider UN system in Lebanon in tandem with many of the organizations present today, along with municipalities and local authorities, is critical to ensure that similar projects which put communities at the forefront are given due consideration and recognition. 

Our hope is that the Markazouna Community Centre becomes a symbol of this recognition, a safe haven where social cohesion and dialogue thrive, and where individuals, communities, and professionals can meet and interact in peace.

Distinguished participants, 

By bringing together multiple partners, across the international, national, and local levels, this project provides an important opportunity for the United Nations to reaffirm its commitment to the communities of Lebanon and to build back better through a bottom-up, community-based approach. 

Why? Because communities are the bedrock upon which societies are built. They are built on shared values, traditions, culture, and aspirations; And in times of challenge and adversity, it is the solidarity and unity within communities that provide the resilience needed to overcome obstacles. 

The ‘Markazouna Community Centre’ stands as a testament to our commitment to fostering this solidarity, offering a space where community members can come together to not only access essential services but also to foster a renewed sense of belonging and interconnectedness. 

Allow me to conclude by thanking Japan, represented here by the Ambassador of Japan to Lebanon, and of course, the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security for their continued support to the UN and Lebanon, across multiple humanitarian and development fields that extend far beyond the scope of this project.

Thank you.