The Italian Government has pledged one million euros for the most vulnerable children living in Lebanon through a contribution to UNICEF’s WASH (Water Sanitation and Hygiene) programme. It was the Italian Ambassador to Lebanon, Massimo Mariotti, who signed the pledge together with UNICEF representative Tanya Chapuisat. Present at the signing ceremony was also Donatella Procesi, the director of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation in Beirut.
The Ambassador acknowledged “the enormous efforts of the Lebanese Government to host refugees and we will continue to contribute to its efforts.” He added: “Through the agreement signed, Italy confirmed its commitment to support UNICEF’s action in Lebanon, which aims to assure access to clean water and reduce the diseases caused by bad hygiene conditions, promoting a vision that places the most vulnerable people at the top of Italy’s cooperation aid policy.”
The new contribution is crucial to assuring that the most vulnerable children and their families living in Informal Settlements continue to have access to temporary drinking water supply points and live in a healthy environment.
“We appreciate the significant contribution of the Italian Government aimed at reinforcing the WASH programme,” said the UNICEF representative. She added: “Together, we can assure safe access to clean water to the children most at risk and their families, especially in areas difficult to reach.”