News

In the context of ongoing international monitoring of the humanitarian and relief situation in Saida, Mayor Eng. Mustafa Hijazi received the Ambassador of the French Republic to Lebanon, Mr. Hervé Magro, and the Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Lebanon, Ms. Carolina Lindholm Billing.The meeting was attended by Deputy Mayor Dr. Ahmad Akra, Municipal Council Members Baraa Hariri, Majed Abdel Jawad, Wael Kassab, Hisham Hachicho, and Ahmad Choueib, as well as the Head of the Disaster Management Unit Ms. Wafaa Choueib and the Crisis Unit team from the Hariri Foundation.The meeting served as an opportunity to review the ongoing shelter operations in the city. Discussions focused on the implications of the announced truce on displacement dynamics, including the stabilization of the number of displaced persons and the new challenges imposed by the evolving situation. Participants also emphasized the need to develop practical plans to ensure the sustainability of essential services in shelter centers for as long as possible, amid the ongoing crisis and the necessity of maintaining basic conditions for resilience among displaced populations.In a joint statement, Ambassador Hervé Magro and UNHCR Representative Carolina Lindholm Billing praised the efforts undertaken by Saida Municipality and the Disaster Management Unit, noting that what they observed in the municipality and crisis cell represents a model for crisis management. They highlighted the exceptionally organized and highly professional efforts carried out within the operations room, stressing that this level of professionalism—combining humanitarian commitment with sound administrative planning—has enabled the city to effectively absorb the impact of displacement.For his part, Mayor Mustafa Hijazi welcomed the visiting delegation and expressed the city’s appreciation for this international attention, stating: “The visit of the Ambassador and the UN representative means a great deal to us, as it reflects international solidarity with Saida in facing these difficult challenges. We extend our sincere thanks to France and UNHCR for their continued support, and we consider their praise of our operations room team a medal of honor for every staff member and volunteer who contributed to the relief effort. We remain committed to continuing our work with full transparency and professionalism to ensure the dignity of our displaced communities.”The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming the importance of continued close coordination to ensure the readiness of municipal and service facilities to respond to all future field developments.