Veterans want government to send medical aid to Lebanon

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Schalkhaar September 27, 2024
Article by ANP.

The Veterans for Lebanon Foundation (VVL),

wants to urge the Dutch government to send medical supplies to Lebanon. This foundation of UNIFIL veterans previously sent containers with aids and other items to the country, but that has become too uncertain due to the flare-up of violence, says chairman Bert Kleine Schaars. The Lebanese embassy in the Netherlands has asked the government, Dutch citizens and UNIFIL veterans for urgent medical assistance. "We are now working on how we can draw attention to this," says Kleine Schaars.

UNIFIL is a United Nations peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon that was established after the Israeli attack on that country in 1978. The Netherlands has participated in the UN mission for many years since the beginning of 1979 and an estimated 9000 Dutch military personnel have been involved. Little Schaars served in Lebanon for six months in 1980. According to him, the current situation in the country creates a feeling of powerlessness. "Because what can you do? It is very difficult and painful to see what is happening. The first victims in a conflict like this are innocent civilians, who need urgent help."

According to Kleine Schaars, professional parties and governments are needed to collect the necessary medicines, including for logistics. According to the foundation, the Lebanese ambassador has knocked on the door for things like antibiotics and medical supplies for hospitals, among other things. "That is only possible if you, as a Dutch state, can get hold of it and send it there. We can't do that ourselves, it has to be arranged at a serious level, we try to draw a lot of attention to that." The VVL supports, among other things, schools in Beirut and several other local projects.