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23 June 2022
Regional Technical Offices offer valuable solutions to Lebanese municipalities and unions of municipalities in strengthening local governance and enhancing municipal services
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The Sustainable Development Goals in Lebanon
The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Lebanon:
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16 October 2021
UN Country Team’s retreat explores how to Build Forward Better Lebanon
“Dream, Love, Inspire” that’s how the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Najat Rochdi kicked-off a two-day retreat for the UN Country Team in Lebanon that took place on 4 and 5 October 2021 in the heart of nature, in rural Beit Mery. “‘Dream’ for a better Lebanon... ‘Love’ for the love and dedication we owe to the people of Lebanon and to our common agenda… ‘Inspire’ for the inspiration we desperately need to continue to serve the people of Lebanon amid these unprecedented challenging times,” Ms. Rochdi explained.
Two years on from the COVID19 Pandemic, the popular protests and the devastating Beirut port explosions, the UN Country Team in Lebanon under the leadership of the Resident Coordinator, joined a ‘One UN’ retreat to share visions for a better Lebanon and help decide the next chapter of the Organization amid the country’s mounting challenges and inherent risks.
UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Joanna Wronecka welcomed the UNCT members and the concerted efforts to build a common UN vision on how best to support the Lebanese people and work towards a prosperous Lebanon. “If we are to have a positive influence on developments, the UN needs to respond to the Lebanese reality as a whole. To maximize our impact, we need to work concertedly. Our political, peacekeeping, development and humanitarian efforts must go hand in hand,” Ms. Wronecka said.
Over 25 Heads of UN Agencies operating in Lebanon engaged in a vigorous debate, sharing their thoughts, knowledge, and good practices to help shape the new UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) that will guide the work of the UN in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The group works were the essence of the retreat’s interdependent sessions, tackling important socio-economic, political and environmental priorities in Lebanon. These joint exercises proved to be a catalyst for inter-agency harmony and synergy in identifying multi-dimensional risks, triggers and prevention and mitigation measures to address Lebanon’s challenges and overcome obstacles that would jeopardize the work of the UN. “I came, thinking we would have two days of formal exchanges and dry lengthy statements. I left with a sense of purpose, expectations, energy, and the feeling that I was part of a team,” said Zarak Jan, Co-Chair of the joint UN Programme Management Team.
The sessions also provided a good opportunity to get everyone around the table and re-consider the current way of doing business to help Lebanon surmount its formidable problems. “Business as usual is no longer an option for the UN in Lebanon. That’s why we commit to working together to turn Lebanon’s crises into opportunities and ‘Build Forward Better’ through actionable, accountable and effective programs that serve first and foremost the interests of the people,” explained Ms. Rochdi in one of the sessions.
Partnerships are central to Lebanon’s recovery and this was also discussed in the retreat in the presence of representatives from the European Union, World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and Civil Society in Lebanon, who committed through concrete actions to optimize the way different entities work together to ensure they deliver the greatest value for the people of Lebanon.
For participants, the retreat created comradery and helped promote friendly interactions and networking among different UN heads of agencies away from the usual office setting. “The retreat provided an excellent space to see colleagues again and have the space to brainstorm how the UN can best support Lebanon in its recovery,” said UN Women Director in Lebanon, Rachel Dore-Weeks. “It reminded us all of the power and importance of face-to-face discussions, and the need to work together across the humanitarian, development and peace nexus in Lebanon”, she added.
The two-day retreat concluded with an interactive wrap-up of the main UNCT retreat’s outcomes and culminated in a group dance on “Jerusalema” song. A group photo was taken in memory of this year’s UNCT retreat and a short video was created for this occasion.
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10 August 2021
One Year after the Devastating Beirut Port Explosion: How did the UN observe the tragic 4th of August Day?
The 4th of August has become an ominous day that will dwell forever in the memory of every Lebanese. On this fateful day, 214 people lost their lives, over 6,000 were injured and thousands found themselves without any shelter, their lives and livelihoods completely shattered. The damage was colossal on many fronts, caused by the unsafe storage of an enormous quantity of ammonium nitrate at the Port of Beirut for many years.
On the occasion of the first anniversary of this tragic day, the United Nations staff in Lebanon has united in grief to mourn the victims of this horrendous tragedy, and express their solidarity with their families and the injured and with the people of Lebanon at large who are bearing the brunt of the country’s socio-economic, financial and political crises.
A minute of silence was observed at the Port of Beirut where the massive explosions erupted, in the presence of UN officials, ambassadors and the diplomatic corps in Lebanon.
“Let us take this moment of silence to honor the memory of the victims of this terrible explosion, to show our solidarity with their families and all the Lebanese people,” UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Joanna Wronecka said before the minute of silence was observed at the Port.
“A Minute of Silence will never console the pain of families of the victims of the Beirut Blast,” tweeted the UN Deputy Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Najat Rochdi on this solemn occasion. “Today we reflect on the suffering and sorrow of those who lost their loved ones in this dreadful tragedy, of the survivors and people of Lebanon and reiterate our call for a swift and impartial investigation,” she added.
UN Staff Members recall and react
Concurrently, other UN staff members observed one minute of silence in their respective UN offices to pay tribute to the victims and show their solidarity with their bereaved families and with their UN colleagues who lost their loved ones.
“August 4 has been marked in every single Lebanese person. For me, time stopped there,” said Danielle Inaty, UNV National Specialist working with WHO office in Lebanon. “It has been a year already! Yet, I still live this tragic event over and over again.”
Inaty observed a minute in silence with her colleagues in WHO office in Beirut and added with tears running down her cheeks: “scars may have healed, but we will forever remember this sad day. May the soul of the victims rest in eternal peace”.
UN staff were equally hit by this fatal explosion. They lost family members, relatives, friends and saw their houses falling into debris.
Rana Dash, a Lebanese programme assistant working for the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Lebanon, still remembers vividly what happened on that day. The minute she felt the shockwaves of the explosion from her house in Ashrafieh, Rana knew that people would need her help, so she sprang into immediate action.
“I heard a huge explosion, followed by a tide of screaming and shattering glass. I grabbed my first aid kit and drove my damaged car to Gemmayzeh to help. My tires crunched on broken glass. It was the first time that I see so much blood in my entire life... People turned to prayers amid the tragedy, and my only concern back then was to stop people’s bleeding and save their lives.”
Elie Mansour, senior engineer and head of UN-Habitat Lebanon’s Urban Planning and Design Unit, was another UN staff survivor from the Beirut blast. He was still in the office working late when the blast went off. “The building shook. I started praying. The alarm sounded, the windows blew out of the walls, and the office’s interior partitions titled. The office was in complete ruins,” Elie said recounting his most horrifying moments that day.
“Looking back, I know that my story does not compare with those of people who had their lives taken or changed forever on 4 August 2020, but for me it was a lesson that even through the hardest moments, hope should always prevail,” Elie added with a determination to stay hopeful despite all the hardships facing Lebanon.
A joint EU-UN-WB position on the commemoration of the Beirut Blast
The commemoration of the fatal explosions was also observed by the three principals of the European Union, the World Bank and the UN who are partners in the so-called “Reform, Recovery and Reconstruction Framework (3RF)” that aims for a rapid transition towards Lebanon’s recovery with focus on governance, social protection, social cohesion, inclusion and gender, health, education, and housing.
“365 days later, the people of Lebanon are still waiting for the justice promised by the country’s decision makers… 365 days later, the investigation continues to stall, without a truly independent judiciary able to block political intervention… 365 days later, we reiterate our call for an effective, independent and transparent investigation that can bring justice for the victims and peace for their families,” wrote Rochdi along with Ambassador of the European Union to Lebanon, Ralph Tarraf, and the Regional Director of the Middle East Department of the World Bank, Saroj Kumar Jha in an Op-Ed published in local media on the same day.
A year after the blast, grieving families continue to seek justice and truth for their loved ones, and the UN reiterates its call for a swift, independent and impartial investigation that guarantees justice to victims and ensures families’ right to remedy and reparation.
A Conference in Support of the People of Lebanon
Reaffirming its support for Lebanon one year after the devastating explosion, the UN co-chaired with France an international donor conference to boost aid and prevent a “humanitarian catastrophe” in Lebanon. The conference responded to a UN humanitarian appeal for $370 million in emergency aid for the coming 12 months. This new appeal aims to save lives and to address the most urgent food security, water, sanitation, health and education needs of impoverished Lebanese and migrants.
However, “humanitarian assistance cannot be a long-term solution”, read the co-chairs’ statement issued after the conference, calling first and foremost for a Government formation that implements reforms promised since the 2018 CEDRE Conference, the resumption of negotiations with IMF and the timely preparations of transparent and impartial 2022 elections.
Participants in the conference reiterated their commitment to stand alongside the Lebanese people and expressed their determination “to make use of all available instruments to provide direct support to population.” But structural economic and financial assistance require profound changes by Lebanon leaders, concluded the statement.
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26 May 2021
LOOKING BACK IN LEBANON: How the UN responded to multiple crises in the past year?
Mimi is a migrant worker from Ethiopia who came to Lebanon eight years ago looking for a better future. She found work but endured years of salary theft, no days off, and beatings from her employer. She fled her job without her personal belongings—including her passport. “I ran away from abuse thinking my life would get better,” she says. And it did get better. Mimi took on freelance work, got married to someone she loves, a Sudanese refugee, and they had kids. But then, with the advent of the pandemic, she lost her job. “Now I am undocumented with unregistered children and an unknown future.”
The UN in Lebanon was there to back her up, working with partners to provide cash assistance to 700 migrant workers and other people left behind during the pandemic. Mimi has gotten some much-needed support from the UN and partners. “Now,” she says, “I am able to see the light of my humanity and dignity again.”
As COVID-19 swept the country, prompting shutdowns and interrupting the economy, the UN and partners trained thousands of healthcare and other workers on preventive measures. Rawan Chehadeh was one of the 282 nurses who benefited from trainings implemented by UN Lebanon with the Lebanese Orders of Nurses and the Ministry of Public Health.
Also in response to the pandemic, the UN supported the establishment of community isolation sites for those unable to quarantine at home, procured 73 fully-equipped intensive-care-unit beds and 800 regular hospital beds, provided food parcels to 50,000 of the poorest Lebanese households, and is now assisting with the national vaccination program.
On 4 August 2020, a massive explosion rocked the capital city of Beirut, triggering a series of smaller explosions, killing over 200 people, injuring thousands more and flattening whole neighborhoods.
The UN in Lebanon was there to provide support, deploying expert relief response teams less than 24 hours after the explosions to assist with medical care, search and rescue operations, and assessing the health impact of the explosions.
Ten days later, a UN-coordinated appeal for financial support was launched to respond to the most urgent needs of 300,000 people affected by the explosions. By the end of 2020, the appeal had raised US $165 million.
The UN and partners helped restore water service to around 24,000 persons after the blasts, provided multi-purpose cash support to 91,552 persons, including cash for rent or shelter, and repaired or rehabilitated over 12,000 damaged homes, including that of 34-year-old Hala, who says, “Walking into our repaired home mended our broken hearts.”
The ongoing crisis in Syria has driven many thousands of people to take refuge in Lebanon, seeking work and freedom from the bombs and guns that have imperiled their lives back home.
The UN was there to provide support. In 2020, and with the support of UN partners under Lebanon’s Crisis Response Plan, vulnerable Syrians and Lebanese were provided with safe water, food and cash assistance, as well as healthcare, legal aid and life-saving sexual and gender-based violence services.
“2020 was an exceptionally challenging year for Lebanon, and the people are still feeling the shocks of it,” says Najat Rochdi, UN Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon.
The COVID-19 pandemic. The explosions in Beirut. The long crisis in Syria driving refugees into Lebanon. These events are widely divergent in nature, but they are all reminders of how catastrophe can strike at any time and in any form, and they call for people who are ready to respond.
And these are just some of the areas where the UN responded. Indeed, the UN in Lebanon was built for such situations, and its work in 2020 is detailed in the new UN Lebanon Annual Results Report.
“Whatever we at the UN do—responding to emergencies, promoting peace and good governance, protecting human rights, reducing poverty and gender inequality—our aim is always to serve Lebanon and its people.”
Read more in the 2020 UN Lebanon Annual Results Report.
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05 April 2022
The living of "Al-Karantina"
The devastating Beirut Port explosions caused major traumas across all social groups. This was even more present in the Karantina area, where the explosion also uncovered old traumas, reviving stories of mass deaths from the 1975 to 1990 civil war area, and the compounded crisis.
A safe and inclusive platform for people of Karantina has been provided through playback performances, documentation, and work on memorialization to heal the wounds of the explosions and foster social cohesion among Karantina’s different groups. The process was sought to be a recovery journey that focuses on the physiological support for the people of Karantina, including all nationalities, ethnicities, religions, and age groups.
More than 547 people were targeted by the playback theater performances, 254 youth were involved in the drama performance sessions, and 71 children were engaged in expressive arts sessions.
“It was a chance for a person to speak out his pain. This isn’t our first pain; we’ve seen that before and it had affected us too. We felt that there’s someone who cares about us and is trying his best to understand whatever it is we felt,” said Feryal El Hussein, who actively joined the different sessions.
The residents’ stories were collected and transformed into a book and a memory box “The Living of Al Karantina”. This initiative attempts to document and archive the oral history of the area from the Lebanese Civil War to the Beirut Port explosions, stemming from the principles of witnessing and historiography—the two pillars of the peacebuilding process.
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04 April 2022
Bringing vibrant life to schools in Beirut one brushstroke at a time
Children draw their brushes and get ready to add color to a big white wall in the playground. Colors, paint jars, pencils and drawings cover the ground. Children’s voices burst forth with joy; and Marie-Joe Ayoub, a young artist/painter, tries to channel the group’s overflowing energy to complete the mural that is starting to take shape.
This activity marks the completion of the rehabilitation work carried out by UNESCO and UN-Habitat in the two schools after the Port explosion on August 4th, 2020, with the support of Education Cannot Wait, which has helped rebuild 40 damaged schools within the framework of UNESCO’s flagship initiative “Li Beirut”.
"This mural helps children feel that they have a role to play in the beautification of their school after the Port explosion”, explains Marie-Joe Ayoub.
“This allows them to leave their mark in their school. Now, they are a part of it. Today, we need a new active generation to take the initiative. Art is crucial to help children express themselves. It increases their concentration, focus, patience, and serenity, especially amid the pandemic. Children want to get together to work and interact with each other”.
To carry out this project, Marie Joe Ayoub has organized brainstorming sessions with the students to teach them about murals.
“It is important for them to know that there are jobs out there that need artists and illustrators”, says Marie-Joe. “We started with the history of murals, from caves to American graffiti. More importantly, we talked about why we draw. Murals often carry a message, and I opted for a message centered on education for health and well-being," she added. The children – of different ages – interpreted the theme in their own way, drawing sketches that inspire them, then reproducing them on the large wall, which now sports big words like "Peace" and "Freedom”.
“I am drawing food”, says Hani, a child, while decorating the wall in his school. “Food helps our bodies grow. I also drew bad things like cigarettes and candy, to compare”. On her side, Sally is adding the final touches to the wings of a large butterfly. "It symbolizes freedom, and it's colorful", she says. “Just like my school! Years from now, I'll be happy to return to my school and see my drawing, my mark, engraved on the wall..."
Li Beirut is an international flagship initiative launched from Beirut by the Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, in the aftermath of the explosions, on August 27, 2020, to support the rehabilitation of schools, historic heritage buildings, museums, galleries and the creative industry, all of which suffered significant damage in the deadly explosions.
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03 June 2022
UN helps turn Crisis into an opportunity: How Solar Energy Made a Difference in Batloun School
Maha Hassan, 47, carefully roams the hallways of Batloun Public Intermediate School every afternoon to make sure lights are turned off before she goes back home. Given the serious economic and financial crisis the country is reeling under and the limited energy sources, she does her best to save the school’s expenditures. Hassan, who was once enrolled in the school as a student, and later on worked at it as a teacher, now strives as principal to maintain the competitive quality of teaching amid the daunting challenges in Lebanon.
“Our school is known for its high-quality teaching, so it attracts many students from nearby villages who cannot afford expensive private schools.” says Hassan, who succeeded in transforming the obstacles that the school has been facing into a long-term opportunity.
Cold and Dark Classes
The past academic year (2021/2022) was challenging for Batloun Public Intermediate School, located at an altitude of around 1050 meters above sea level. The school's geographical location made it difficult to endure the winter season without the necessary energy sources for running heating supplies. The weather-related challenges were compounded by the shortage of fuel supply in Lebanon and the long hours of power cut. “Running a school without power is impossible. We need power for lighting, printing, photocopying, and running labs and libraries. Unfortunately, the students had to learn in cold and dark classes with the constant power cut,” Hassan say.
With these circumstances, the school relied on three energy sources: a private generator that the school owned and ran on fuel, a subscription with a privately-owned generator that supplied energy for schools and residences in the village that also runs on fuel, and the national utility supply (Électricité du Liban). These resources proved expensive, unreliable, inefficient, and unsustainable. In addition to the expensive fuel price, the school’s reliance on this energy source was inconsistent with the Batloun municipality’s orientation towards decarbonizing the village and reducing carbon emissions by at least 40% by 2030.
Despite the challenges, teachers and students did not lose the urge to successfully complete the past academic year. Many teachers had to alter their teaching methods to deliver lessons. Carol Saadeddine, an English teacher at the school could not run audio tapes to train her students on listening skills. Therefore, she held in-class conversations to improve the capacity of her students to understand conversational English. The students also applied some tactics to cope with the challenging situation. Because teachers could not print papers or use technology in class, students had to manually and rapidly note down information while also listening to the teacher. Rayan Halabi, 13, a student in grade 9 at Batloun Public Intermediate School found the past year challenging: “I couldn’t copy and listen to the teacher at the same time. I was also annoyed by the fact that we couldn’t use the smart TV, projector, or DVD”. He adds: “We were all anxious most of the time because of this situation”.
Solar Energy: Game Changer
A few months ago, UN Lebanon installed a solar photovoltaic system in Batloun school as part of a European Union (EU) funded CEDRO 5 project. UN Lebanon, through the UN Development Program (UNDP), had selected interventions that are based on the priority ‘Action Plans’ as identified and designed through the implemented SEACAPS (Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan) studies and focused on the installation of renewable energy systems and related energy efficiency applications. UN Lebanon, with funds from the EU, implemented the project in Batloun in close coordination with the Head of Batloun municipality Marwan Kais. The project was also implemented in several public institutions across Lebanon including Baakline, Bishmizine, Dinneyeh, Hasbaya, Nabi Sheet and Qab Elias.
Since 2016, Kais has been working on greening the village and installing photovoltaic systems in public institutions. He recommended the installation of these systems in Batloun Public Intermediate School under the CEDRO 5 project implemented in close coordination with European Union (EU) Clima-Med Project because he believes that “solar panels [photovoltaic systems] are essential for public schools since it saves the cost of fuel which is very expensive compared to the limited financial capacities of these institutions.”
In fact, the installation of the photovoltaic systems has decreased the energy bill of Batloun Intermediate School by producing 10 MWh/year, leading to eight tons of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) savings and covering more than 70% of the energy bill for the school.
After Installing photovoltaic system, the experience of both teachers and students became less exhausting. “With the supply of power through solar panels [photovoltaic systems], I am less anxious because I can use technology whenever I want without the need to always rely on alternative methods,” says Saadeddine with a sigh of relief. Shimah Abou Ismail, 16, a grade 9 student also thinks that the availability of electricity through the photovoltaic systems is creating a more peaceful ambience in classes: “With solar panels [photovoltaic systems], we don’t have to waste time on manually copying information from the board. Light is always available, and we can print whenever we want. I feel that now we are on the safe side”.
Embrace the Sun
Although Batloun Intermediate School incurred a challenging winter, the persistence of its principal, teachers, and students, each from his/her position turned the crisis into an opportunity. As she wanders across the school's hallways with eyes wide open, Hassan giggles as she says: “the sun is a clean and renewable energy source that we can use for free and without any side effects”.
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30 May 2022
UN Supports Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises in Lebanon: A Matchmaker by excellence!
“Supporting small businesses in Lebanon is the only way to help Lebanon recover from its crisis. It will help the country be self-sufficient, more productive, and retain its qualified workforce; a compelling need to stop the excessive brain drain” says Joanna Gerges, 32, in a voice filled with enthusiasm and hope for a brighter future in Lebanon.
Over the past four years, Joanna has been spending most of her time in her winery “Chateau Cana” in Ras El Harf, Mount Lebanon, founded by her father 22 years ago.
For Joanna, “Chateau Cana” is not only a family business that she runs for profit. The winery is a purposeful project for which she left her rewarding full-time job in order to rescue it from bankruptcy. “When I realized that my family business was not doing well, I resigned from my job and devoted my time to the winery. I strongly believed in the potential this business can have in adding a name to Lebanon’s winemaking history and creating job opportunities for hundreds of people in neighboring villages” Joanna said. In fact, her family has been supporting 50 families in the 30 Lebanese villages by providing farmers with vine seedlings, then buying from them the crops to protect them from incurring any losses.
Despite Joanna’s persistence and fervent hope for growth, she struggled to find international buyers for her local wine. “It’s very hard to sustain a business when you don’t have opportunities to connect and meet with international importers,” she explained. Joanna’s challenges were compounded by the country’s severe financial crisis resulting in a dramatic devaluation of the local currency, making access to finance strenuous and the import of raw materials exorbitant for her and other entrepreneurs.
During the time when Joanna was searching for gainful opportunities to sustain her business, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in Lebanon organized in partnership with Berytech, the “Business-To-Business (B2B) Matchmaking” event on the Agri-Food Innovation Day (AFID) that spanned over three consecutive days (22-24 March 2022).
The event aimed to create business opportunities for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Lebanon by creating conducive platforms that connect Lebanese entrepreneurs with international buyers and help them reach international markets.
The B2B Matchmaking event falls under the MESO level, one of three intertwined levels of a three-year joint UN initiative titled “Productive Sector Development Programme” (PSDP). The programme which is worth USD 7.4 million, is funded by the Lebanon Recovery Fund through the generous contribution of the Government of Canada, and implemented by six UN agencies, namely UNIDO, FAO, UNDP, ILO, UN Women, and UNICEF and led by the UN Resident Coordinator Office (RCO).
“The Productive Sectors Development Programme came at a crucial moment in Lebanon’s history. Canada’s development programme is driven by four key principles: being people-centered, reform-oriented, collaboration-driven, and results-focused. This initiative is a great demonstration of those principles in action,” said Mr. Jamie Schnurr, Head of Cooperation at the Government of Canada in Lebanon. “Today’s event [B2B Matchmaking Event] is an example of the results expected,” he added at the event.
Accessing international markets and diversifying clients base are nowadays every agri-food company’s top priority in Lebanon, and their last lifeline to remain afloat amid the unfolding economic crisis. This is exactly what the PSDP has offered so far under its MESO component, which mainly aims at improving access of women and men-led MSMEs to international markets.
For Rose Bechara, founder of Darmmess, a local producer of extra virgin olive oil, the event was “a grace from heaven, sparing us time, energy and money.”
Watch Rose’s testimonial video and learn how she was able to meet her ‘dream’ buyer from Lafayette Gourmet.
Ramshad Hassan Pandi, import Manager at Lulu Saudi Hypermarkets in Saudi Arabia, was one of the international buyers present at the B2B Matchmaking event, searching for new untapped entrepreneurs and looking into innovative ways to scale up his collaboration with Lebanese businesses. “We see a lot of export potential in Lebanon’s agri-food businesses. They offer new products that we want to add to our portfolios such as goat cheese, garlic sauces, and honey.” Ramshad was eventually able to strike a deal with one of the young entrepreneurs at the UN-Berytech co-organized event.
BOOSTING LEBANESE BUSINESSES’ EXPORT SKILLS
The “B2B Matchmaking” event is not the only activity under the PSDP. Maha, a producer, and manufacturer of naturally-made local nut spreads called “Spreadly”, has registered at the Lebanon Export Academy.
The Academy aims at equipping women and men-led MSMEs and cooperatives in Lebanon with the required know-how and export skills to scale up their operational work and foster their export capacities. Through the Academy, a total of 70 MSMEs in Lebanon were trained on a myriad of export-related topics, from business plan development to product pitching, marketing and branding, pricing, and eligibility criteria.
ACHIEVING THE SDGs
The PSDP is also one of the UN initiatives in Lebanon that contributes to the achievement of the Global Goals and the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development. Maha explains this in her own words, showing great pride in her business: “By recycling our waste and encouraging our customers to return the jars in exchange for a discount, we are encouraging sustainable production and consumption habits.” She adds: “We are also partnering with young talents and forging partnerships with local businesses, hence contributing to Goals 8 and 17 on decent work and partnerships respectively.”
Despite doing well, Maha believes that her business can become even better with the guidance and training she will receive at the Academy. “I am eager to acquire the knowledge and skills offered by the UN through this Academy, which will undoubtedly open up new opportunities to export my products.”
AN ONLINE EXPORT PORTAL: A ONE-STOP SHOP
Lebanon’s entrepreneurs need further support to survive the multi-faceted crisis and help Lebanon recover fast and build forward better. As such, and under the PSDP project, the UN partnered with the Investment Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL) to create an Export portal that acts as a ‘One Stop Shop’ for international buyers wishing to import Lebanese products and connect with local Lebanese producers.
Local companies also benefit from the portal’s market intelligence reports that highlight important information crucial to boosting export to promising markets. This portal is expected to increase access to information in export and import procedures and promote Lebanon’s export capacities, especially for women-led businesses to enable them to sell their products internationally.
“Sometimes all you need is a small push to reach the potential success you have always envisioned” says Joanna with a wide smile on her face.
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14 April 2022
UNIC and AUB hold a two-day panel discussion on the work of NGOs and UN in Lebanon
In collaboration with the United Nations Information Centre in Beirut (UNIC Beirut), the Center of Civic Engagement and Community Service (CCECS) at the American University of Beirut (AUB) organized its annual NGO Forum under the title “NGOs as Frontliners: Challenges and Opportunities.”
This year’s event, which hosted four panels over the 12th and 13th of April, allowed Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and United Nations (UN) agencies in Lebanon to speak about pressing social issues such as women empowerment, social justice, refugees in protracted crisis, mental health, and education. The event, which was held at the Basile Antoine Meguerdiche Conference Hall (IFI Auditorium) at the Issam Fares Institute at AUB, offered the university students the chance to listen to primary community actors and engage with their projects and initiatives.
The panels involved experts from various UN agencies who spoke about topics relevant to their mission and area of expertise. On the first day, Joumana Zabaneh, UN Women Program Management Specialist participated in the panel entitled “Women Empowerment and Social justice”. In her intervention, Zabaneh unpacked the various layers of discrimination and injustice that women in Lebanon incur as a result of outdated social values and laws. She also focused on the topic of “unpaid care” which she presented as a major challenge for women in modern life because her normalized role persists to be centered around care providing.
In a panel entitled “Refugees in Protracted crisis”, Carol El Sayed, Community Based Protection Officer at UNHCR presented some important figures about the situation of Syrian refugees in Lebanon. El Sayed also highlighted UNHCR’s approach to refugees as “partners as much as government and academia are partners because they have their own agency and they can contribute to solutions and preventions.” In her talk, El Sayed emphasized that despite the devastating life conditions of refugees in Lebanon, UNHCR is also aware of the needs of the host community and Lebanese family who are also in need for aid and support.
On mental health, Danielle Inaty, UN Volunteer Programme Assistant, presented the work of WHO on supporting mental health in Lebanon in collaboration with local organizations and highlighted the available resources for learning about this topic. Inaty emphasized that the need for mental health support in the country has been increasing in light of the deteriorating political and economic situation and the aftermath of the 4th of August explosion, which have compromised the well-being of Lebanese population and particularly the youth.
In the panel on education, Marco Pasqualini, UNESCO Education Specialist, presented “transformative education” as a key approach that transforms life by helping young people actively contribute to making the world a better world and to sustainability. “Transformative education, which contributes to fulfilling global goals and establishing education 2030, requires training teachers to be transformative themselves by using alternative teaching methods,” he added.
UNIC Beirut Director Margo Helou commended the efforts of AUB to inform youth and engage them in discussions on pressing issues facing the country. She highlighted the importance of implementing the SDGs as a means to overcome these issues on the long term.
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11 April 2022
Lebanon: War in Ukraine means price rises amid climate crisis
A tangle of muddy roads lead to Rana’s farm, which is nestled between the snow-topped peaks of Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley.
Perhaps they are a metaphor for the various factors the World Food Programme (WFP) is warning are driving up food and fuel prices across the Middle East and North Africa: climate change, conflict, the coronavirus pandemic, and rising costs.
Since she was a child, Rana has got up at 5 a.m. to make a living out of what she loves most: being busy on her parents’ farm.
“I am a farmer at heart,” says the former nurse. “I feel an itch whenever I stay between four walls for too long.”
Yet, as Ramadan begins, Rana herself is one of the millions of Lebanese who are weathering a crumbling economy and skyrocketing costs.
The war in Ukraine is impacting fuel and food prices. Import-dependent Lebanon gets 80 percent of its wheat from Ukraine – which together with Russia supplies 30 percent of the grain worldwide.
Last year, the cost of a food basket – the minimum food needs per family per month – reported an annual increase of 351 percent in Lebanon, followed by Syria at 97 percent, and Yemen’s 81 percent.
Sadly, wheat shipments to Lebanon are forced to arrive on smaller ships, after the devastating Beirut blast in 2020 destroyed the country’s largest grain storage silos.
Meanwhile, farmers like Rana are on the front line of climate change, as prolonged dry spells wreak havoc with their fields.
“I thought last summer would never end,” says Rana. She had to sell almost half of her sheep and cows, in order to look after the remaining ones, after prices for fodder were so high.
“I also had to get rid of most of my vegetable yield last year because of a bug infestation,” she adds. When it doesn’t rain it’s “heaven for these little critters”. This summer she expects more and more of her crops will “fall victim to climate change”.
She adds: “You don’t need a weather app to tell you something is not right. You literally feel it on your skin.”
Heat and humidity make the work of agricultural labourers even more demanding, while irregular climate patterns force Rana to cultivate crops either earlier or later than usual to avoid the financial devastation of a poor harvest.
Wildfires are hitting Lebanon left, right and centre, burning swathes of forests and forcing many to flee their homes. Since 2017, WFP in Lebanon has been on the front line of the response to the country’s climate crisis. We have planted over 1.1 million seedlings and preserved more than 502 hectares of forests from fires.
Working with the American University of Beirut, WFP is currently implementing a pilot project that is strengthening the adaptive abilities of rural communities through supporting smallholder farmers in areas including Akkar, Bekaa, Baalbeck, and Hasbaya.
It is building the capacities of farmers to mitigate the effects of climate change, through business development, marketing skills and livestock management.
WFP is currently looking at replicating this work and similar livelihoods projects. However, a lack of funding hinders our full support to vulnerable people – including farmers – as they approach the brink. Funding is crucial to build on successes and support more people in need.
Rana’s greenhouse used to be filled with different kinds of vegetables. The climate crisis is forcing her to opt for crops that are resilient to water shortages – planting aromatic herbs like mint and rosemary instead of the usual, and more lucrative, tomatoes, green peppers, and zucchini.
“What I’ve learned in this project is eye-opening. I’m producing cost-friendly, organic fertilizers out of things I’m accustomed to throwing out,” says Rana, adding that this has allowed her to use the money she has saved to compensate for some of her losses.
So instead of buying fertilizers, she is making them out of things she’s accustomed to throwing out.
As prices continue to rise during Ramadan, Rana expects that more families will have little to eat when they break their fast.
WFP remains at the forefront of the humanitarian response to Lebanon’s crises, currently assisting one in every three people across a country that is now reeling under the impact of local and global crises.
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Story
04 April 2022
Rehabilitation of the Ministry of Public Health Central Drug Warehouse at Karantina Area
The Ministry of Public Health Central Drug Warehouse (MoPH-CDW) at Karantina is the major warehouse facility handling the reception, storage, and distribution of MoPH acute and catastrophic medications and vaccines, with a distribution network of more than 1,000 centers servicing more than one-half the population that are uninsured and eligible for the MoPH programs in addition to displaced Syrians.
Following the Beirut Port explosions, the UN took the lead in the rehabilitation and improvement of the deteriorated MoPH-CDW under the World Health Organization's standards. The support led to an increase in storage capacity from 3000 m3 to 8000 m3 through two-level warehouses. These improvements will lead to better supply, storage, and dispensing mechanisms with fewer interruptions in stocks.
The UN also helped establish nine cold rooms and two refrigeration rooms. The provided support led to an environment-friendly, innovative, and sustainable solar panel system serving as an emergency source of electricity. This system, its inverters, and batteries complement EDL and fuel-generated electricity.
Strengthening the MoPH pharmaceutical supply system, upgrading the storage facilities, and implementing an updated logistic management software of MoPH will ensure access to medications, vaccines, and supplies for more than 2,000,000 patients and beneficiaries.
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Press Release
29 June 2022
UN Lebanon Joint Statement in support of LGBTIQ+ in Lebanon
As enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and under the United Nations’ global commitment to leave no one behind, we encourage the Government of Lebanon to respect its national and international human rights obligations, including the rights of all people to freedom of assembly, association, and expression - regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or sex characteristics.
While Lebanon has taken some steps towards addressing discrimination against LGBTIQ+ persons in recent years, including during the most recent Universal Periodic Review of Human Rights in 2021[1], recent events suggest a rollback on human rights, particularly for certain marginalized groups.
We urge the Lebanese authorities to fulfill their obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to which Lebanon is a signatory, and prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression.
We will continue to advocate for equality, inclusion, and full human rights guarantees for all segments of the population, including the realization for all of the rights to freedom of expression, assembly, and association.
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[1] https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/upr/lb-index
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Press Release
27 June 2022
Statement of the International Support Group for Lebanon
The ISG urges Lebanese stakeholders, including executive and legislative authorities, to work quickly on the swift formation of a government that can implement important outstanding reforms in order to relieve the suffering of the Lebanese people. In particular, the authorities must deliver on commitments made in the 7 April staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), including budget laws, capital control, banking secrecy, banking resolution, government and central bank decisions on banking resolution and exchange rate unification, to lay a solid basis for socio-economic relief and a sustainable recovery of Lebanon. This is best achieved through an agreement with the IMF, supported by the international donors’ community.
The ISG continues to stand by Lebanon and its people.
Note to Editors
The International Support Group has brought together the United Nations and the governments of China, France, Germany, Italy, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States, together with the European Union and the Arab League. It was launched in September 2013 by the UN Secretary-General with former President Michel Sleiman to help mobilize support and assistance for Lebanon’s stability, sovereignty and state institutions.
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Press Release
23 June 2022
Regional Technical Offices offer valuable solutions to Lebanese municipalities and unions of municipalities in strengthening local governance and enhancing municipal services
This comes at a time where the current economic crisis is severely impacting communities as well as municipalities and Unions of Municipalities in Lebanon. Due to the crises, communities are increasingly turning to local authorities for basic services and employment opportunities. However, the crisis has also constrained municipalities and unions of municipalities in their ability to address these rising needs.
The concept of the RTO was created and initiated by UN-Habitat in 2007 as a local tool that aims to strengthen local governance, enhance service delivery, improve municipal planning, and respond to emergencies. The RTO, which performs as part of a municipality or union of municipalities, is comprised of local technical and social experts who support and enhance municipal planning and the provision of municipal services. Currently there are RTOs at the Union of Tyre Municipalities, the Urban Community Al-Fayhaa, and Bourj Hammoud Municipality. Since their inception, these RTOs have played a crucial role in overall development planning and the implementation of basic service and local economic development projects to address community needs.
“Lebanese municipalities and unions of municipalities are a solid core in the local and regional development process. It has become necessary for local authorities to have Regional Technical Offices (RTOs) that provide the needed technical expertise and play a leading role in formulating plans, preparing projects, and submitting proposals.” Said DGLAC Director General, Faten Abou Hassan.
She added. “The Directorate General of Local Administrations and Councils (DGLAC) remains available to provide additional technical advice and necessary training courses on the legal and organizational framework that regulates municipal projects, financial management, and procurement, among others.”
Eng. Hassan Dbouk, Head of Union of Tyre Municipalities, said “The Regional Technical Office is an efficient tool that support and contribute to well-designed local development plans through data collection, analysis and interpretation.”
“The discussion today, among local and international partners, is an opportunity to learn from each other, to discuss how RTOs can support municipalities and Unions in the current crisis period, what can be done to support establishing new offices in other municipalities and unions, and how they can be sustained in the future.” Said Marija de Wijn, Chief Technical Advisor, MERP.
“In Lebanon, the EU is supporting municipalities and unions of municipalities to improve their resilience, support local sustainable planning, basic service delivery and economic development for all citizens and refugees. Through funding the establishment of Regional Technical Offices, the European Union empowers local government in Lebanon to better serve local residents”, said Alessia Squarcella, Deputy Head of Cooperation, Team Leader – Economy, Green Deal and Local Development, the European Union Delegation to Lebanon.
The discussion highlighted the importance of willingness of municipalities and unions of municipalities to ensure the sustainability of RTOs. This requires strong ownership of local authorities when establishing RTOs and in supporting their functioning. Another point highlighted is the need for RTO staff to be part of the national capacity development plan such as implemented by the Formation Center for Municipalities (CEFOM).
During the event, the newly commissioned RTO website page was launched (https://unhabitat.org/project/regional-technical-office-rto). The web page provides information about the role and functions of the RTO, along with tools to ensure the sustainability of these offices. These tools include the RTO Standard Operating Manual, Capacity Development Strategy for RTOs, and the Exit Strategy, which will support the hand-over of the RTO from UN-Habitat to the respective municipal authority.
END
For more information please contact:
Aline Kiwan, MERP Media and Communication Officer, at aline.kiwan@un.org, mobile 03-294070
Note to editors
About the Municipal Empowerment and Resilience Project (MERP)
MERP is a joint project by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat). The Project is being implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities (MoIM) and funded by the European Union (EU), through its Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis, the EU “Madad Fund”. The project aims to strengthen the long-term resilience of subnational authorities in Lebanon as well as host communities and displaced persons affected by the Syrian crisis. Learn more at https://bit.ly/3hBveux
About the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)
UN-Habitat works in over 90 countries supporting people in cities and human settlements for a better urban future. Working with governments and local partners, its high impact projects combine world-class expertise and local knowledge to deliver timely and targeted solutions. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development includes a dedicated Goal on cities, SDG 11 – to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
Learn more at www.unhabitat.org/lebanon or follow us on Twitter at @UNHabitatLB, on Facebook at UN-Habitat Lebanon and on Instagram at UNHabitatLB
About the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet.
Learn more at www.lb.undp.org or follow on Twitter at @UNDP_Lebanon, on Facebook at UNDP Lebanon and on Instagram at UNDP_Lebanon
About the European Union (EU)
The European Union supports Lebanon’s stability, independence and sovereignty, its prosperity and democratic order. It strives also to help protect its environment and natural resources by supporting sustainable enterprise and development. The European Union is also committed to the promotion and protection of human rights in Lebanon including defending gender equality, children’s rights and freedom of expression. The EU Delegation in Lebanon represents the European Union to the Republic of Lebanon with the objective to maintain and develop mutual beneficial relations. It engages in political, social and economic development activities on behalf of the European Union and based on the most pressing needs of the country of Lebanon.
Learn more on the work of the EU in Lebanon or follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @EUinLebanon
Learn more on the EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis, the EU Madad Fund, or follow on Twitter at @EU_NEAR, on Facebook at EU Neighbourhood & Enlargement and on Instagram at EU_NEAR
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Press Release
20 June 2022
Launch of the 2022 Lebanon Crisis Response Plan (LCRP): Government, UN and partners appeal for US $3.2 billion
Eleven years into the Syria crisis, the Government of Lebanon and its national and international partners today appealed for $3.2 billion to address the ongoing impact of the Syria crisis through delivery of critical assistance to people in need and support to Lebanon’s public infrastructure, services and local economy, amid deepening vulnerabilities. The Lebanon Crisis Response Plan brings together more than 126 partners to assist 3.2 million people in need living in Lebanon. It aims to provide support to 1.5 million Lebanese, 1.5 million displaced Syrians, and more than 209,000 Palestinian refugees.
The Lebanon Crisis Response Plan 2022 is a multi-stakeholder response co-led by the Government and the UN and contributed to by a wide range of entities including local and international NGOs. The response plan takes an integrated approach to addressing the needs of both Syrian displaced, Palestine refugees from Syria and the Lebanese host communities through a combination of humanitarian and stabilization interventions, including a focus on the maintenance of service provision through public institutions at the local level.
The $9 billion assistance provided through the Lebanon Crisis Response Plan since 2015 has shown tangible results for the host population and displaced persons. In 2021, nearly 2.3 million subsidized health consultations were provided through Primary Healthcare Centres, including over one million consultations to vulnerable Lebanese and over one million to displaced Syrians. More than $375 million was injected into Lebanon’s economy through cash-based interventions supporting vulnerable Syrian, Lebanese and Palestinian families. In response to the growing food needs, a total of 2.1 million individuals across these populations were provided with cash-based and in-kind food assistance, an increase of 45% compared to 2020. Within this number, 572,000 people received food parcels, including over 350,000 Lebanese. Amid growing mental health needs, more than 26,300 Syrian, Lebanese and Palestinian children and 10,000 caregivers benefited from focused psychosocial support activities. To seek to preserve economic and social stability, more than 119 municipalities were supported to strengthen basic service provision and reduce resource pressure through community support projects in high-risk communities, including rehabilitation of infrastructure for livelihoods, education and agricultural land.
“Lebanon has been hosting displaced Syrians now for more than 11 years. As resources are further stretched by the economic crisis, increased support to the displaced and for the Lebanese host communities remain a top priority for the Government of Lebanon and its partners. It remains essential for a fair distribution of support without any discrimination to people affected by the crisis, including Lebanese villages and towns hosting the displaced, in order to alleviate the burdens placed upon them. We urge you to stand by Lebanon, its people and government, and by the displaced to respond to their urgent needs, and work together to overcome obstacles to their safe return to their homeland”, said Minister for Social Affairs Hector Hajjar.
“With the continuing impact of the Syria crisis and the current economic crisis in Lebanon pushing everyone to the brink, partners’ joint efforts to support refugees and the host community through the Lebanon Crisis Response Plan remain essential. Nine out of ten Syrians in Lebanon are living in poverty, while poverty levels have also risen substantially for Lebanese, migrants and Palestinians. These circumstances are driving negative coping mechanisms, as families are forced to send their children to work instead of school, skip meals or incur debt. It is important that municipalities are supported to keep basic services running amid massive capacity gaps”, said Najat Rochdi, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator.
In 2022, people across Lebanon are falling deeper into poverty due to currency depreciation, high inflation, rising prices and loss of income. Gaps in supply chains including fuel, wheat and electricity continue to impact the operational environment for LCRP partners, while they simultaneously face an increase in pressure from local authorities and communities to provide assistance amid escalating needs.
The Lebanese government has pledged to scale up the number of Lebanese families benefiting from regular cash-based assistance under the government-led National Poverty Targeting Programme, which donors fund under the LCRP, from 36,000 families to 75,000 families over the next two months. Moreover, the government has endorsed the National Social Protection Strategy which aims to provide a sustainable solution and thus enhance comprehensive and inclusive social protection for the most vulnerable groups in Lebanon. Outside of the LCRP, the government has committed to implementing the Emergency Social Safety Net program, financed by the World Bank through a loan, which has provided monthly cash assistance to approximately 60,000 of the poorest Lebanese families in US dollars for a period of one year. It is intended for this program to reach 150,000 families.
The LCRP complements a range of other internationally supported humanitarian and development initiatives in Lebanon. The Emergency Response Plan (ERP), launched in August 2021, aims to address the needs of the most vulnerable among the Lebanese, migrants, and Palestine refugees in Lebanon affected by the multiple crises. A revised appeal for the ERP was issued last week calling for $546 million to meet needs until the end of 2022. The Reform, Recovery and Reconstruction Plan launched in 2020 continues to channel further funding to Lebanon, following the Beirut port explosions. The United Nations and the Government of Lebanon also recently signed the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework which aims to move towards a triple nexus approach, putting ultimately an end to humanitarian needs, strengthening the capacity of Lebanese institutions to deliver on their duties and ultimately promoting sustainable development to build the foundations for a prosperous and inclusive Lebanese society, where no one is left behind.
For more information please contact:
MOSA: Dr Ola Boutros, General Supervisor of the Lebanon Crisis Response Plan, +961 3508115
UNHCR: Ms. Dalal Harb, Communications Officer, +961 70 113 107
Ms. Paula Barrachina, Senior Communications Officer, +961 81 312 087
UNDP: Ms. Rana Moughabghab Saab, Senior Communications & Media Officer, +961 3835351
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Press Release
20 June 2022
Lebanese Parliament and UN Lebanon Sign Compact to Boost Collaboration
This compact aims at institutionalizing the existing bilateral partnership between the two parties and at expanding the scope of cooperation to ensure a coordinated, coherent, and integrated approach to supporting the Lebanese Parliament in achieving necessary reform priorities, with the technical support of the UN in Lebanon.
They both welcomed the progress made in strengthening the existing cooperation between the UNCT and the Lebanese Parliament and stressed the importance of fostering and institutionalizing this partnership as well as scaling up joint efforts in instituting reforms.
Attached below is a copy of the signed Partnership compact between the UN and the Lebanese Parliament.
***THE END ***
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Latest Resources
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24 November 2021
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09 September 2021
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