The Lebanese Organization of Studies and Training (LOST), in collaboration with UNICEF delivered a garbage truck to the municipality of Yamouneh, at a ceremony held at the Cultural Club Hall in the town of Yamouneh. The ceremony was held in the presence of Dr. Ramy Lakkis, founder of LOST, UNICEF’s Lebanon Director representative, Mr. Iqbal Motira, Lebanese Army brigadier, Mr. Ali Sharif, heads of union of municipalities, and voluntary and social figures.
“This is not the first time that LOST has been active in the town of Yamouneh; we look at this village in its natural and human resources and capabilities that can play a prominent and exemplary role in development”, Dr. Lakkis stated. Furthermore, Dr. Lakkis explained that securing a garbage truck to collect waste was one of the steps that LOST and the municipality of Yamouneh worked together to achieve, where the main objective remains to serve as a model for other towns and villages. Dr. Lakkis emphasized that it is important to recognize that there is waste management problem in Lebanon, which requires a decision from all of us, especially the municipalities.
Moreover, UNICEF’s representative, Mr. Motira expressed his gratitude to the mayor of Yamouneh, for his “interest in the affairs of displaced Syrians, by providing all necessary assistance”. He further stated that the partnership between UNICEF and LOST, in cooperation with the municipalities is a model of what UNICEF is doing to help civil societies now, and in the long run.
Inhabitants of Yamouneh will work together to sort the waste from the source, and set up a small waste recycling plan to take advantage of it later, in order to increase the efficiency of the solid waste collection service to serve the town, and to reduce waste damage to the environment and public health. By providing a garbage truck, the first solution of collecting waste has been resolved. However, it is not enough, and “it is necessary to educate people on the importance of sorting waste from their homes”, concluded Dr. Lakkis.
