Lebanon - IOM has donated USD 26,000 worth of equipment to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) as part of a project funded by the United States to strengthen Lebanon’s migration and border management capacity in the context of the Syrian crisis.

Lebanon’s Border Control Committee (BCC) accepted the donation, which included IT, communications and other equipment yesterday (23/10) in Beirut.

This intervention follows other IOM initiatives to enhance the capacity of Lebanon’s border management agencies, particularly the General Security Division (GSD), through training and infrastructural support.

The handover was attended by senior LAF officers and other members of the BCC, including representatives from the GSD, the Internal Security Forces, the International Centre for Migration Policy (ICMPD) and Danish, German and French advisory teams.

Under its immigration and border management program, IOM has been helping Lebanon since June 2013 to develop and implement a strategy to address both regular and complex migration management challenges arising from the Syria crisis, through a rights-based approach.

The programme comprises assessments of border crossing points, the provision of infrastructural support, and training for border officers on issues from humanitarian border management to the fight against crimes such as the smuggling of migrants and human trafficking.

IOM continues to seek funds to build this programme further, including by helping to upgrade Lebanon’s Border Management Information System.  

For more information please contact

Fawzi Al-Zioud
IOM Lebanon
Tel; +9617 1495 464
Email:  fzioud@iom.int