A ceremony was held at the Civil Defense Center in the Mansourieh area to mark the rehabilitation and equipping of the center which funding was provided by the Rotary Club of Beirut Cedars; the event was under the joint Patronage of the General Director of the Civil Defense Brigadier General Raymond Khattar & the Governor of Rotary District 2452, DG Bashar Haddad.
The ceremony was attended by the General Director of Civil Defense, Brigadier General Raymond Khattar, the Governor of Rotary District 2452, DG Bashar Haddad and his wife, Mrs. Mais, the President of the Rotary Club of Beirut Cedars, Mr. Ramzi Abou Samah, the Fundraising Chair of this Project Mr. Ronald Farra, and its project manager Engineer Charbel Bou Chebel, the Mayor of Mansourieh, Mr. William Khoury, members of the Mansourieh Municipal Council, Past District 2452 Governors IPDG George Azar, PDG Sheikh Jamil Mouawad, PDG Farid Gebran, Deputy District Governor, attorney Chawkat Houalla, District Governor’s Aide for Learning Affairs Dr. Samar Saab, Deputy District Governor for the Rotary Year 2024-2025, Mrs. Mona Geha Kanaan, Assistant Governor Mr. Toufic Ariss, Assistant Governor Mr. Hagop Dantziguian, Rotary District officials, current and former club presidents, Rotarians and Rotaractors, civil defense employees and volunteers.
The ceremony began with the Lebanese national anthem and the Rotary anthem. At the beginning, the Master of ceremony, Past President Ghassan Hajjar, delivered a welcoming speech to the attendees, saying that “the Rotary Club’s motto: service above self, coincides with the mission of civil defense in helping the citizen, saving private property, and protecting nature without compensation,” explaining that the goal of this project is “to give back part of what the Civil Defense deserves.”
Then, the General Director of Civil Defense, Brigadier General Raymond Khattar, gave a speech in which he praised “the Rotary Club of Beirut Cedars” for showing concern towards the Civil Defense Center in Mansourieh and securing its urgent needs to enable its members to maintain public safety without any logistical obstacles,” stressing that “starting today, this will be undertaken.” The center will more effectively carry out firefighting, ambulance, and rescue missions.”
Then DG Bashar Haddad took the stand, and stressed in his speech that “the men and women of Civil Defense are the safety valve in times of distress and the first line in confronting dangers.”
In the same volunteering spirit, Rotary Clubs shine lamps of goodness and service that illuminate the paths of those in need, stressing that he feels great pride in seeing the achievements of the Rotary Club of Beirut Cedars, as their commitment to making a difference in their community, is what matters, and deserves deep appreciation.
There was also a speech by the President of the Rotary Club of Beirut Cedars, Mr. Ramzi Abou Samah, in which he explained that this achievement is “the result of joint efforts and hard work that lasted for several months,” and that its cost exceeded 32 thousand US dollars, “due to our absolute belief in the message that the Civil Defense carries, which is to work for the safety of a society exhausted by crises.” He thanked Brigadier General Khattar for “allowing us to serve the Civil Defense” and considering his efforts and dedication to serving the community.
This was followed by a speech from the project manager, Engineer Charbel Abou Chebel, a member of the Rotary Club Beirut Cedars, in which he mentioned that this project is his first with the Rotary Club, which he joined a year ago. The idea was launched after the station’s volunteers worked to save a Rotary Club member and his family from a fire using simple equipment they possessed.
He explained that it was carried out in four stages, namely: repairs to the fire mechanical engine, equipping the ambulance engine, rehabilitating the center in terms of electricity, beds, insulation of the rooftop, and flood-protective clothing for the personnel, etc., providing complete rescue equipment, thermal cameras, 7 communication devices, and 15 firefighters uniforms with shoes, and a rehabilitated ambulance provided by the Mansourieh Municipality, an emergency Rio truck for rescue, the first in Lebanon.
In closing the session, an inspection tour was made for all attendees to step on all the rehabilitation and equipping done at the center.
It is to be mentioned that all donation was made through local & international donors, and we mention RC de Voiron, RC Ensisheim, RC Lake Oswego & others.
Finally, everyone gathered to participate in a cocktail party held on this occasion, which included cutting cakes.
Link on prime news: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N16oWhOS3A
Link of the event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bbz9KdWUkI4
