![The Lebanese army's Civil Military Co-operation Directorate distributes food to families in the Bekaa Valley towns of al-Labwa, al-Qaa and Arsal on August 24th. [Photo courtesy of the Lebanese Army’s Directorate of Guidance]](/cnmi_am/images/2017/09/01/9383-Lebanon-food-assistance-700_496.webp)
As the Lebanese army wrapped up its military operation along the border with Syria, Civil Military Co-operation Directorate (CIMIC) personnel distributed food rations to the residents of three Bekaa Valley towns.
On August 24th, the army's CIMIC directorate distributed food rations to 750 families in the northern towns of al-Labwa, al-Qaa and Arsal.
The provision of food was "an expression of the army’s appreciation for residents who held steadfast in their homes during the Fajr al-Juroud (al-Juroud Dawn) operation", the army’s directorate of guidance said on August 24th.
The food distribution initiative was "highly significant", al-Qaa resident Minerva Rizk told Al-Mashareq.
"While we try to find ways to support the army in its war against terrorism, we see it standing by our side and thinking of us," she said. "Instead of us paying tribute to it, here it is expressing its appreciation for us."
Projects to assist civil society
The army "constantly surprises us with initiatives aimed at strengthening our steadfastness and survival on our land", said Arsal farmer and father-of-six Ahmed Firas, who received a food ration to help feed his family.
The CIMIC distributed food to residents because they were a line of defence behind the army in the battle to liberate the land from the "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS), said al-Qaa municipality employee Abeer al-Toum.
"The initiative was very important, and everyone responded well to it," she told Al-Mashareq, adding that "residents stand shoulder to shoulder with the army".
Al-Toum said the aid is "affirmation that the army does not forget its people and appreciates its standing with it, and that the army and the people are one".
The CIMIC directorate's distribution of food rations is part of its implementation of a wide range of activities and projects aimed at assisting civil society.
These include distributing medical supplies, rehabilitating and equipping schools, distributing school bags and books to students and supporting sports activities by constructing playgrounds and distributing sports uniforms.
CIMIC also provides assistance to remote villages through the construction of medical clinics and irrigation networks.
"Since its establishment, the Lebanese army has not hesitated to defend Lebanon, protect its interests and stand by its people through various ordeals and crises," said CIMIC directorate head Brig. Gen. Elie Abi Rached.
This has created a cohesive military-civilian relationship from which Lebanon draws strength and resilience in the face of all challenges, he told Al-Mashareq.
"As the Lebanese army fights terrorism in the juroud of Ras Baalbek and al-Qaa, the CIMIC directorate is reinforcing this relationship by providing some in-kind assistance to the residents," he said.
Military-civilian co-operation
"The strategic relationship between the army and the people was key to the success of the military mission," Abi Rached said.
The aid provided "ranges from the distribution of food rations to the implementation of development projects to alleviate the impact of the military operations on residents", he noted.
The directorate co-ordinates with municipalities, local authorities and military units deployed in the area of operations to align services with residents' needs, he said.
It also channels residents' enthusiasm to support the army by receiving donations from civilians and organisations and redistributing them as needed.
The reciprocal support between the military and civilians "is a source of strength for the army in its fight against terrorism", he said, adding that this relationship is "one of the most important tributaries of our national unity".
The Army Command established the CIMIC directorate in 2015 with the aim of facilitating co-operation between governmental and non-governmental institutions.
The directorate works to raise the national level of readiness to face crises, and to boost Lebanon's ability to withstand and overcome adversity.
CIMIC is attached to the military operations command and has several regional headquarters which engage with civil society organisations and residents in order to develop mutual understanding and help military leaders understand the needs and capabilities of civilians when they develop operational plans.
