Tyre Municipality and Amel Open a Safe Centre for Girls, Women and Children

UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Major General Diodato Abagnara: Supporting the People of Southern Lebanon through Humanitarian Programs Is a Shared Responsibility

Randa Abou Saleh: Empowering Women and Children Is Essential to Southern Lebanon’s Recovery and Rise from the Rubble

Mohanna: When Safety Becomes Scarce for the People of the South, We Expand Spaces of Protection and Solidarity and Affirm That People and Their Dignity Come First

As risks facing the people of southern Lebanon grow, and their suffering deepens under continuing Israeli attacks and the fear, displacement, and human and social losses they leave behind, Amel Association International continues to expand spaces of safety and protection and stand alongside communities confronting harsh conditions. In this context, Amel, in cooperation with Tire Municipality, opened a safe center for girls, women, and children in the Al-Kharab neighborhood of Tire. The initiative aims to provide a safe and supportive environment for those most affected by crises, strengthen their ability to cope with challenges, and help them regain a sense of safety and stability.

The opening ceremony took place on Friday, 2 October 2026, in the presence of Major General Diodato Abagnara, Head of Mission and Force Commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), accompanied by UNIFIL personnel; Hassan Dbouk, President of the Union of Tyre Municipalities and Mayor of Tyre; Dr. Randa Abou Saleh, Chair of the municipality’s Women and Children Committee; and Member of Parliament Hussein Jishi, alongside representatives of the local community and civil society. They were welcomed by Dr. Kamel Mohanna, President of Amel Association International; Dr. Ahmad Abboud, the association’s Director; Mona Shaker, Head of Amel’s Tyre Centre; Rajaa Abboud, Head of Amel’s Bazourieh Centre; Daniela Khalil, Protection Programme Coordinator; and members of the Amel team.

The opening provided an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of strengthening cooperation among humanitarian organisations, local authorities and international actors amid the exceptional circumstances facing southern Lebanon. It also highlighted the growing need for initiatives that offer girls, women and children safe spaces responsive to their needs, help them overcome the psychological and social effects of crises, and strengthen their participation in community life.

In his address, Dr. Kamel Mohanna stressed that opening the centre in Tyre carries a humanitarian message that extends beyond its location and the services it will provide. He said: “When people’s access to safety narrows, our responsibility is to expand it. When war surrounds families with fear, anxiety and uncertainty, our duty is to stand closer to them and open new doors to protection and hope. Opening this centre today, in the heart of a south facing attacks, destruction and displacement, affirms that life must not come to a halt and that girls, women and children have the right to safety, care and development, however difficult the circumstances become. We do not want the people of the south to grow accustomed to fear or for their suffering to become a permanent reality. We want to stand as their partners in protecting their dignity and their right to a better future.”

Mohanna added: “Our long experience in southern Lebanon has taught us that the strength of communities lies not in their ability to endure pain indefinitely, but in the solidarity of their members and the conditions that enable them to live with dignity. It is therefore not enough to praise the resilience of the people of the south. We must translate our solidarity with them into tangible action that protects people and advances their rights. Through this centre, we reaffirm Amel’s philosophy: people are both the purpose and the driving force of every humanitarian endeavour. Women, girls and children are not merely recipients of assistance; they are rights holders and partners in building more just and safer communities. Protecting people today also means protecting the future of southern Lebanon and its ability to recover and restore life.”

For his part, UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Major General Diodato Abagnara emphasised the importance of humanitarian initiatives that support local communities in southern Lebanon. He described such support as a shared responsibility, particularly in assisting women and children who face mounting challenges under current conditions. He also stressed the importance of cooperation among humanitarian organisations, local authorities and international actors, expressing his appreciation for the efforts of Amel Association International and Tyre Municipality to strengthen community services and provide safer, more supportive environments for residents.

Dr. Randa Abou Saleh, Chair of Tyre Municipality’s Women and Children Committee, affirmed that the centre represents an important addition to efforts to support residents of the city and surrounding area at a time when families face growing humanitarian and social burdens. She praised the partnership with Amel Association International and its continued presence alongside the people of southern Lebanon. She stressed that protecting girls, women and children and providing them with safe spaces are essential priorities, and that cooperation between the municipality and humanitarian organisations is a cornerstone of community solidarity and an effective response to people’s needs.

The centre’s opening reflects Amel Association International’s commitment to continuing its humanitarian and development work in southern Lebanon and strengthening initiatives that place people’s needs and rights at the heart of crisis response. Since its establishment, Amel has embraced an approach rooted in solidarity rather than pity, recognising every person as a rights holder and a partner in creating change, while prioritising outreach to underserved communities and those facing the greatest marginalisation, without discrimination.

At a time of growing fear and uncertainty about the future of southern Lebanon, Amel and Tyre Municipality affirm through this initiative that expanding spaces of safety is an investment in people and in communities’ ability to protect their members and rebuild social cohesion. Standing alongside girls, women and children is more than an immediate humanitarian response: it is a commitment to their right to protection, dignity and life.