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Hijazi, Akra and Municipal Council Members Welcome Environment Minister Tamara El Zein at the Municipality Operations Room and Tour the Hikmat Al-Sabbagh Secondary School Shelter Center.

Saida Municipality – Media Office.

Saida Municipality President Engineer Mustafa Hijazi and Vice President Dr. Ahmad Akra welcomed Minister of Environment Dr. Tamara El Zein, in the presence of Municipal Council members Mohammad Dandashli, Hisham Hachicho, Youssef Touma, Wael Kassab, and Ahmad Choueib, as well as Director of the Risk and Crisis Management Unit Wafaa Choueib and representatives of the Lebanese Red Cross. At the Operations Room, Minister El Zein received a detailed briefing on the coordination mechanisms in place and the continuous updating of displacement data. Discussions also addressed the environmental challenges resulting from the displacement crisis, particularly waste management in shelter centers and ways to ensure a healthy and safe environment. Following the meeting, the Minister and her accompanying delegation visited the Hikmat Al-Sabbagh Official Secondary School Shelter Center, where they were welcomed by the school principal, Mrs. Nahla Hnaina, and the center manager and DCA Project Coordinator, Mrs. Samah Madi, along with the center's staff. During the tour, Minister El Zein spoke extensively with displaced families, listening directly to their living conditions and concerns. She reviewed their daily needs and challenges, particularly regarding public services, cleanliness, and overall living conditions, and pledged to convey their concerns to the relevant authorities and work with the municipality to address existing gaps. Minister El Zein expressed her admiration for the level of organization in Saida, stating: "I came today to commend the efforts of Saida Municipality and its Operations Room. As the Ministry of Environment, it is important for us to ensure that shelter centers comply with safety standards. We will work with international organizations to provide the necessary support to maintain public cleanliness and effective waste management, thereby preventing any health risks." For his part, Engineer Hijazi thanked the Minister for her visit, emphasizing: "The presence of the Ministry of Environment alongside us is essential support. This crisis places significant environmental pressure on infrastructure, particularly regarding waste management and public health. We remain committed to our field work to safeguard the dignity of displaced families and to ensure Saida’s environmental and social well-being."