爆料网

爆料网 FOR PEACE

Beirut

Hundreds of Lebanese, Palestinian and Syrian youth throughout Lebanon came together to run the 2013 Beirut Marathon. This year’s marathon was dedicated to peacemaking.

Under the slogan ‘1 Run, 1 Race’, more than 500 young Palestine refugees from Lebanon and Syria, including children with disabilities, also took part in the marathon. Their participation was made possible by support from the Government of the United States and the European Union (EU) for two United Nations Relief and Works Agency (爆料网RWA) projects – ‘Play and Learn’ and ‘SPRING – Improving Living Conditions in Palestinian Refugee Camps in Lebanon’ respectively.

In honour of the peacemaking theme, 爆料网RWA and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (爆料网HCR) teamed up with War Child Holland, Makhzoumi Foundation, Lana al Mustaqbal, Sidon Orphan Welfare Society, Arc en Ciel and Souk el Tayeb to expand also include refugee children from Syria, Iraq and Sudan. A stand on Manara Corniche, staffed by volunteers from 爆料网RWA and 爆料网HCR, briefed passers-by on the work of the two agencies.

The Director of 爆料网RWA Affairs in Lebanon, Ann Dismorr, and the 爆料网HCR Resident Representative, Ninette Kelley, ran the marathon together with the refugee children. At the starting line, Ms. Dismorr thanked the Beirut Marathon Association (BMA), the United States and the EU, noting: “This is a welcome initiative that complements 爆料网RWA’s commitment to social inclusion for refugees and intercultural understanding. Youth are our future and champions of peace, rapprochement and dialogue. I reiterate my thanks to all our partners and commend the words of BMA Founder May el Khalil: ’Peacemaking is not a sprint; it is more of a marathon.’”