STORY: Lebanese praise Chinese peacekeepers for top services, support
DATELINE: Aug. 2, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:11
LOCATION: Beirut
CATEGORY: SOCIETY
 
SHOTLIST:
1. various of Chinese peacekeeping forces
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): RAEF BZEIH, Mayor of Zebkine, southern Lebanon
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): HAZZAH SAMIH, Villager of Zebkine, southern Lebanon
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Arabic): BILAL MAATOUK, Villager of Hanniyah, southern Lebanon
5. SOUNDBITE 4 (Arabic): IBRAHIM BZEIH, Villager of Zebkine, southern Lebanon
 
STORYLINE:
 
Villagers in southern Lebanon have expressed their appreciation for the Chinese peacekeeping forces working with the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
 
SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): RAEF BZEIH, Mayor of Zebkine, southern Lebanon
"Our experience with the Chinese battalion is wonderful and unique. We feel that our relationship with Chinese peacekeepers is that they are part of us. The Chinese battalion has played a significant role in the south since the July 2006 war. It offered many services, starting with street cleaning."
 
SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): HAZZAH SAMIH, Villager of Zebkine, southern Lebanon
"To be honest, we have a special feeling for the Chinese because they are responsive with people here, mostly in medicine, by providing medical support and medicines."
 
SOUNDBITE 3 (Arabic): BILAL MAATOUK, Villager of Hanniyah, southern Lebanon
"The relationship between citizens and the Chinese battalion is more than excellent. The peacekeepers are peaceful, and they like to offer services to others. They always help us when we ask for support." 
 
SOUNDBITE 4 (Arabic): IBRAHIM BZEIH, Villager of Zebkine, southern Lebanon
"We thank the Chinese and generally all countries participating in the UNIFIL in southern Lebanon. There is a Chinese doctor that visits the clinic weekly to treat people and prescribe medicines. Most importantly, the Chinese battalion also helped families and farmers construct roads."
 
China has sent more than 7,000 peacekeepers to Lebanon since 2006. Its 21st contingent to Lebanon, with a total of 410 peacekeepers, has been serving the UN Mission since August 2022.
 
So far, the Chinese peacekeepers have cleared more than 8,400 square meters of minefields, safely removed over 1,400 landmines, completed about 100 construction tasks with high standards, provided medical treatments to more than 3,000 UNIFIL personnel and local people, and held over 20 cultural exchange activities, among other things.
 
Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beirut.
(XHTV)