Project to turn Sidon’s dump-site into a park

The project to rehabilitate Sidon’s dumpsite and turn it into a green park has been launched on the 20th anniversary of the first Earth Summit held in 1992. In a ceremony held near the landfill on the maritime boulevard of martyr Rafik Hariri, the project’s agreement was signed between the Ministry of Environment and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).       

Environment Minister Nazem Khoury commended this initiative, stressing that Sidon’s residents have been waiting for this step for far too long.   

For her part, MP Bahia Hariri considered that the landfill has become among the nation’s top political issues.   

In his speech, former PM Fouad Siniora said “instead of the mountain of concerns, we can now think of a plan to disseminate lime blossom, blossom water and the scent of roses.” 

In turn, the representative of the UNDP Robert Watkins expressed his joy to see the biggest landfill on the Lebanese coast converted into a green area that “will make citizens proud.”  

In this regard,

Sidon’s mayor Mohamad al-Saudi assured that efforts to rid the area of the landfill are “very serious.” 

Following the ceremony, participants headed to the residence of MP Bahia Hariri in Majdelyoun where they took part in a lunch banquet.


For the full LBCI report, watch the video above.