LEBANON: United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon distributs Christmas gifts to residents of areas in south Lebanon

Record ID: 430522

  • Title: LEBANON: United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon distributs Christmas gifts to residents of areas in south Lebanon
  • Date: 24th December 2007
  • Summary: ITALIAN UNFIL SOLDIERS PUTTING CHRISTMAS DECORATION (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ITALIAN UNFIL CAPTAIN ALAGYA SAYING : "I'd like to take this chance to say to everyone Merry christmas ."
  • Embargoed: 8th January 2008 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Lebanon
  • Country: Lebanon
  • Topics: Defence / Military,Social Services / Welfare
  • Reuters ID: LVAEA2ZRFXDRAN2VHKLD5B7JN8PX
  • Story Text: Peacekeepers in southern Lebanon have taken a break from their normal duties to spread Christmas among the locals, the majority of whom are Muslim Shiites. Italian troops belonging to the United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) shed their military fatigues for a Santa costume in Tebnin, a town close to the border with Israel, as children gathered to get gifts. The Spanish UNIFIL unit decorated a Christmas in tree in the town of Marjayoun which has a mixed Muslim and Christian community.
    In Qana, the village where Christians believe Jesus turned water into wine, UNIFIL troops held a service in a holy grotto and gave gifts to locals.
    U.N. peacekeepers from 30 countries are serving today in southern Lebanon as part of the U.N. mission to monitor a truce between Israel and Hezbollah.
    The U.N. Interim Forces in Lebanon or UNIFIL has been operating in the region since 1978 but was beefed up following the 34-day 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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