The new relationship created between the military and historic building was embodied by a workshop organized by Biladi, with Blue Shield, for UNIFIL and LAF soldiers on lessons learned from Beirut Safeguarding Heritage Operation. This event, gathering all stakeholders, took place on October 28th, 2020 in the MoFA building.
The workshop program included speeches by:
- Mrs. Joanne Farchakh Bajjaly, President of Biladi, Founding Member of Blue Shield Lebanon and
Member of Emergency Response Unit at Blue Shield, on: Blue Shield Emergency Response – Beirut Operation; - Mr. Karl von Habsburg, Founding President of Blue Shield International, on: The Hague Convention
and the Blue Shield emblem; - Peter Stone, President of Blue Shield International, on: Blue Shield International.
The workshop ended with a roundtable which enabled UNIFIL and LAF soldiers to present their lived experience of the Beirut Operation and to make recommendations to Blue Shield by proposing a roadmap for future collaborations.
Among the recommendations made by the military for improving further cooperation with Blue Shield are:
- A better risk assessment at the start of mission;
- More time at the start of mission for making acquaintance between soldiers for good cohesion;
- Better coordination ensured by Blue Shield between UNIFIL and Lebanese authorities, including LAF and politics, for greater efficiency;
- Better identification, at the earliest stage, of collaborating specialists (archaeologists, architects, restorers, roofers, carpenters, etc.);
- More collective training between Blue Shield, UNIFIL and LAF;
- An interpreter for better communication between soldiers of different nationalities;
- Greater availability of emergency and material resources (e.g., larger choice of tools, in accordance with the type of work).
According to UNIFIL and LAF officers and soldiers, the Beirut Operation was:
“an exceptional experience because it was just a military mission at the beginning then slowly we started understanding that everything in the building is of a big value. And saving it was very rewarding”
“Taking part in this mission gave me a sense of pride and honor, that I played a role in saving the history of this country”.
“It was nice to work and collaborate with other armies from other nations. New experience”
“The work completed on this mission is a success and can be used as a prototype for the future”.
Following the workshop, a closing ceremony was also organized by Blue Shield at the neighboring Sursock Museum. The event concluded with a handling of the certificates and prizes for the officers and soldiers that took part in the Beirut Safeguarding Heritage.
All soldiers who took part in the mission got a certificate of participation and a hand badge with Blue Shield emblem on it. The LAF Head of troops from LAF and UNIFIL had a “Blue Shield Coin” as a souvenir for the efforts. The Force commander of UNIFIL, the Commander of the Beirut Forward Emergency, the Independent Work Regiment, the Civil Office at UNIFIL received a “Thank You badge”.
