Lebanon: Malbatt responsible for water distribution to west sector

TIBNINE, LEBANON: The Malaysian Battalion (Malbatt) is responsible for supplying 180,000 gallons of water to the western sector and secluded campsites of other nations which have difficulty obtaining water.
The western sector includes the Irishfinbatt (Irish-Finnish Battalion), as well as the battalions of Fiji and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF).
Assistant Chief of Staff Defence Logistics, Major-General Datuk Mohd Razif Idris said the provision of water supply was being carried out at the Malbatt Harris camp which was one of the main locations for water supply.
He said the task of delivering water supply to the battalions of other nations under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) was a civic and noble responsibility.
"It shows the strong trust that Unifil has in Malbatt which has been entrusted with the task of guarding this resource since 2010," he told reporters after visiting Malbatt members at the Tibnine camp in Lebanon here on Friday.
Mohd Razif said the task was a big responsibility as water resources were a daily essential commodity and Malbatt should make sure it was properly supplied to Malbatt and the battalions of three other nations.
He said seven-kilometre deep wells were dug at the hills near the camp to contain water, adding that Malbatt had assigned a staff from each of the Malbatt sections to guard the water resources.
"The Malbatt staff will take turns guarding the water resources round-the-clock to protect them from any external threat.
"The water resources here (Tibnine) are very valuable and if it is compromised by enemy attacks, it would be very disastrous for Malbatt members," he said.
The Malaysian Government approved the involvement of the Malaysian Armed Forces in the Unifil mission in Lebanon since 2007, to assist peace-keeping forces from other member countries of the United Nations to enforce Resolution 1701 of the Security Council. — Bernama