UN-Habitat inaugurates restored facilities and neighborhoods damaged in Beirut port blasts
March 4, 2022, 11:01 am

UN-Habitat inaugurates restored facilities and neighborhoods damaged in Beirut port blasts

Lebanon-Beirut Port blast

The Xinhua reported, the National News Agency said that the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) on Thursday inaugurated restored facilities and neighborhoods that were damaged in the 2020 Beirut explosions.

The National HIV and Tuberculosis Center in Karatina, as well as a public park and sidewalks in the northeastern neighborhood, were restored with the support of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and the Foundation of France.

The restoration works aimed to expand public spaces while making existing spaces more inclusive and accessible, said Taina Christiansen, head of UN-Habitat in Lebanon, during the inauguration ceremony.

Beirut Governor Marwan Abboud said the port city used to be known for its public spaces, but they were diminishing due to the rapid unplanned urbanization.

Abboud said: "We must all work to create new public spaces and revive existing ones, as they are the beating heart of the city and provide people with a space to relax and interact with their neighbors."

Two big explosions rocked the Port of Beirut on Aug. 4, 2020, shaking buildings all over the Lebanese capital, killing at least 171 people and wounding 6,000 others.

Lebanese PM launches master plan to reconstruct Beirut port

The explosions served another blow to Lebanon, especially when it was already hit by the worst economic crisis in history.

Source: xinhua

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has announced its sponsorship of the “Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition (GU - IST Solutions), hosted by Gulf University at its main campus.
This strategic sponsorship reflects BENEFIT’s active role in advancing technological innovation and fostering sustainable solutions to future challenges. It also seeks to empower Bahraini youth by enhancing their skills, capabilities, and competitiveness in innovation and solution development—contributing meaningfully to the broader goals of sustainable development across all sectors.
As part of BENEFIT’s active involvement in the competition, the company has announced that Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication, will serve on the competition’s supervisory committee. Her upcoming participation reflects BENEFIT’s forward-looking commitment to championing academic and professional excellence.
Commenting on the occasion, Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication at BENEFIT, said, “We are privileged to support this pioneering initiative, which aligns seamlessly with BENEFIT’s enduring commitment to fostering innovation and nurturing the potential of Bahrain’s youth. Our participation is rooted in a deep sense of social responsibility and a firm belief in the pivotal role of innovation in shaping a sustainable future. Through such platforms, we seek to empower the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and foresight required to develop impactful solutions that address future challenges, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030.”
Dr. Aseel Al Ayash Dean of the College of Engineering in Gulf University commented, “We extend our sincere gratitude to BENEFIT for their generous sponsorship and support of the Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition. This contribution plays an instrumental role in helping us achieve the strategic goals of this initiative, namely, cultivating a culture of innovation and sustainability, encouraging efforts that address the imperatives of sustainable development, and enhancing the practical and professional capabilities of our students and participants.”
The event will bring together a diverse spectrum of participants, including secondary school students, university undergraduates, engineers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, academic researchers, and subject matter experts representing a wide range of disciplines.
The competition seeks to inspire participants to develop and present innovative, sustainable technologies aimed at addressing pressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. It encourages the formulation of business models that integrate advanced technological solutions with core principles of sustainability. Moreover, it serves as a platform for emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to contribute to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals, promote the ethos of responsible technology, and demonstrate its transformative potential across various sectors.
Attendees will have the opportunity to view a series of project presentations submitted by participants, covering diverse areas such as eco-friendly product design, smart and sustainable innovations, renewable energy technologies, water conservation and management, waste minimisation and recycling, green architectural solutions, and sustainable transportation systems. Outstanding projects will be formally recognised and awarded at the conclusion of the event.