U.K. envoy opens renovated fish market

SARAFAND, Lebanon: British Ambassador Tom Fletcher inaugurated a refurbished fish market in south Lebanon Friday, part of a project funded by the British government, and announced further aid to villages in the country. “This week, we celebrate Lebanese-British Business Week and this project is one example of how the U.K. is supporting Lebanon’s economy,” Fletcher said. Two U.K.-funded projects in the town of Sarafand, south Lebanon, will help bring fresh, safe seafood to the renovated market.

Opened in 2001, the market in Sarafand sustains around 1,000 fishermen. After years of under-investment, the market became neglected, but was refurbished after Fletcher visited it in 2014 and offered to help.

“I was here less than a year ago,” Fletcher said. “We listened to the fishermen’s needs, we promised and we delivered.”

With support provided by the U.K.’s Department for International Development (DFID) and the Lebanese Host Communities program of the United Nations’ Development Program (UNDP), the market is again bustling with life. “I’m happy to be back today to see how the U.K. responded,” Fletcher said.

The aid program will also deliver improved municipal and basic services to the most affected communities and will include medical equipment and supplies for health care centers, water purification equipment, water tankers, garbage containers and the rehabilitation and maintenance of public wells.

The newly renovated market will allow fishermen to better display and sell their catch.

The British envoy also inaugurated a water tank, which will improve access to water in the most deprived areas of Sarafand. Fletcher was also accompanied by U.N. Resident Coordinator Ross Mountain.

Mountain said that the Fishermen Cooperative of the Zahrani Coast was the biggest fish market in Lebanon. “More than 1,000 fishermen, from different villages in Sahel al-Zahrani [Zahrani Coast] region, are working in this market, [which] was in a bad condition.”

Thanks to the U.K. development fund, which rehabilitated and equipped the market, fishermen’s income has increased through improved economic activity, he said.

“The UNDP is keen to work closely with the Lebanese government and municipalities and the international community to improve people’s lives ... we are here to help not only Syrian refugees but also Lebanese communities.”

Attending the ceremony were South Lebanon Governor Mansour Daou, Head of the Municipalities Union for Zahrani coast Ali Matar, Sarafand Mayor Hussein Khalifeh, president of the fish market cooperative Mohammad Salim and representatives from the social affairs, agriculture and public works ministries.

DFID has supported 48 projects in Lebanon costing $8.3 million, as part of the Social Affairs Ministry-UNDP Lebanese Host Communities program.

Fletcher also announced $13.5 million of new funding, expanding coverage from the 20 municipalities where the organization now works to more than 40 across Lebanon.

The U.K. response to Lebanon’s humanitarian crisis has totaled over $300 million to date.