BRILIB XLII of UNIFIL Coordinates Seven Cooperation Projects for Civil Defence Centres in Southern Lebanon

• These centres have received new personal protective equipment to enhance their efficiency in firefighting within their localities and in protecting their populations

The Lebanese Brigade XLII (BRILIB XLII), under the operational supervision of the Operations Command, has developed and implemented seven quick-impact projects with the purpose of strengthening and improving the capabilities of the Civil Defence Centres (CDC) in various towns within the eastern sector—the area of responsibility and Spanish leadership—of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

These cooperation projects focus on equipping the local CDC teams with personal protective gear, ensuring they have the necessary resources to respond to emergencies, such as wildfires, urban fires, searching for individuals in collapsed buildings, and rescuing people trapped in vehicle accidents, among many other tasks aimed at increasing the safety of the population in southern Lebanon.

Currently, Lebanon is advancing in the recovery of stability and normalcy after the conflict that began in October 2023. In this context, the implementation of these projects is crucial to improving the security of the population returning to their homes and, when necessary, ensuring an effective response to emergency situations.

As part of these projects, a total of 84 sets of fire-resistant personal protective equipment have been distributed, consisting of full suits, boots, gloves, rescue harnesses, hoods, and helmets, aimed at enhancing the safety and effectiveness of personnel during emergency management operations.

Furthermore, the distribution of this equipment has been coordinated and executed under the 'Galatea' programme, which took place over two weeks in April at the 'Miguel de Cervantes' base, the Headquarters of the Eastern Sector of UNIFIL, under the command of Spanish General Fernando Ruiz Gómez.

Through this initiative, Lebanese Civil Defence volunteers participating in the training—provided by personnel from the Military Emergency Unit (UME in Spanish)—have the opportunity to familiarise themselves with, adapt to, and prepare for the new protective gear before using it in real-life interventions.

‘Galatea’ is part of the numerous support programmes for the local population developed by BRILIB in its area of responsibility. The training, provided by UME soldiers with BRILIB's support, consists of two modules: the first is dedicated to wildfire suppression, while the second focuses on Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) operations for civilians trapped in collapsed buildings, as well as vehicle extrication and vertical rescue techniques. 

These actions reflect BRILIB XLII’s commitment to enhancing civil-military cooperation, protecting the population, and promoting community development—all in alignment with the principles underpinning the UNIFIL mission. Through these projects, the aim is to address the immediate needs of the population while consolidating trustful relations with the local communities, thereby strengthening the bond between peacekeeping forces and local residents.

BRILIB XLII: Spain in UNIFIL

The Spanish Armed Forces were deployed to Lebanon in September 2006. The bulk of the contingent for the ‘Libre Hidalgo’ operation is based at the 'Miguel de Cervantes' base (Marjayoun), where the Headquarters of the Eastern Sector, led by Spain, is located. In this sector, and under the framework of the Lebanese Brigade XLII (BRILIB XLII), over 650 Spanish soldiers are deployed to ensure the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, in a highly unstable security environment, despite the peace agreement signed between Israel and Lebanon in November. 

Additionally, to emphasise Spain’s significant contribution and commitment to this mission, Spain contributes troops to the UNIFIL Headquarters in Naqoura: a mission currently led by Spanish Lieutenant General Aroldo Lázaro Sáenz since 2022.