Latest news with #UNOPS
LBCI
3 days ago
- LBCI
Unexploded civil war shell found during rehabilitation work in Horsh Beirut
While UNOPS was carrying out rehabilitation work inside the Horsh Beirut, an unexploded shell dating back to the civil war was discovered during excavation. In response, the commander of the Beirut Guard Regiment, Brigadier General Abbas Al-Husseini, ordered the area to be sealed off and deployed guardsmen to prevent civilians from entering the site. The Army Command's Operations Room was notified, and the Engineering Regiment was immediately dispatched to inspect and remove the shell. Work is still ongoing.
MTV Lebanon
5 days ago
- Politics
- MTV Lebanon
Salam launches national wildfire risk management project
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam launched the 'Wildfire Risk Management in Vulnerable Natural Areas' project at the Grand Serail, in partnership with the Ministry of Environment and supported by the UNOPS and World Bank. The project, part of the 2025 national campaign to combat forest fires, aims to build a proactive, integrated approach to wildfire prevention, preparedness, and response. Environment Minister Tamara El Zein emphasized the urgency of addressing wildfires amid climate disruptions, noting over 6,000 fires in 2024 and warning of worsening risks due to drought. She called for national coordination and scientific research to guide policies. PM Salam stressed that environmental protection is now a sovereign duty, not a luxury, adding, 'This is not just a technical plan—it is a national roadmap for resilience.' He urged government bodies, civil society, and international partners to unite in protecting Lebanon's forests as a shared natural and cultural heritage. The launch featured a project presentation, a short film on recent wildfires, and a panel discussion with key stakeholders, highlighting the importance of early warning systems and community engagement. Testimonies from first responders underscored the human cost and collective responsibility of forest protection.
Saba Yemen
02-07-2025
- Business
- Saba Yemen
Solar-Powered Street Lighting Project launched in Dhamar City
Dhamar - SABA: The Public Works Office in Dhamar Governorate inaugurated a project to supply, install, and operate a solar-powered street lighting system for key roads in Dhamar city. Project Details: - Scope: Installation of 450 solar-powered lights along the main and western ring roads. - Funding: $300,000 USD, financed by the World Bank through the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) under the Emergency Integrated Urban Services Project in Yemen – Phase II. - Technology: Hybrid lighting system with dual power sources (AC/DC), integrated solar panels, batteries, and smart control units. Officials' Remarks: - Eng. Moath Al-Shawkani, Director of Dhamar's Public Works Office, praised UNOPS for enhancing public lighting with renewable energy, reducing accidents, and improving traffic flow amid Yemen's electricity challenges. - Eng. Mohammed Reda, Deputy Director, explained that Phase 1 covers the main road from Customs Circle to Kamaran Circle and the western ring road (including Stadium, Al-Muthalath, Al-Azraq Station, and Amran Circles). Future phases will expand coverage. - Eng. Anas Omran, Roads Director, highlighted the lights' high brightness, low energy consumption, long lifespan, and reliability even in rainy/cloudy conditions. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
Zawya
17-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
African Development Bank project restores electricity in Zimbabwean communities following devastating Cyclone Idai
In March 2019, Cyclone Idai tore through Zimbabwe's eastern districts with unprecedented fury, leaving behind a trail of devastation. Among the hardest hit regions were Chimanimani and Chipinge, where the lifelines of modern life—electricity, roads, and water systems—were severed in a matter of hours. The 155-kilometer powerline stretching from Middle Sabi to Charter, once the backbone of energy supply for Manicaland Province, lay in ruins, plunging over 300,000 people into darkness. For more than two agonizing months, industries ground to a halt, hospitals operated without reliable power for life-saving equipment, and school computer labs stayed closed. "The cyclone brought operations to a near standstill, recalls Witness Teteni, engineering foreman at Charter Sawmills, a facility employing 320 workers. "We experienced numerous power faults that severely disrupted our work. We had to rely on generators, which are expensive to run and not environmentally friendly. The African Development Bank stepped forward with a $24.7 million Post-Cyclone Idai Emergency Recovery Project (PCIREP), implemented through the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), the United Nations agency dedicated to implementing humanitarian and development projects, in partnership with the Government of Zimbabwe. The goal was not just to restore what had been lost, but to provide a better, stronger, and more resilient replacement. A beacon of light and hope The electricity component of PCIREP, representing $3.7 million in strategic investment, focused on reinforcing 155 kilometers of 33kV overhead power lines and constructing a new 12-kilometer 33kV distribution line in Chipinge to separate the two districts' power supplies. It also included infrastructure upgrades such as replacing wooden poles with steel, using installation techniques that help these poles better withstand extreme weather conditions. The project also saw the supply of essential equipment, including vehicles and tools, to the state-owned Zimbabwe Electricity Distribution Company (ZETDC). The African Development Bank-supported project has helped restore power to over 300,000 people. 'We have significantly reduced the number of faults in the system,' explains engineer Selina Mudzinganyama, who oversaw the rehabilitation. "Maintenance costs have also gone down because the upgraded design is built to withstand harsher conditions. Clinics, schools, and households now enjoy reliable power, and businesses can operate without constant interruptions." Echoing this, Andreas Moyo, development engineer for ZETDC's Eastern Region, says, "We now have just our normal faults. The safety, especially for these lines that we reinforced, has improved a lot. We only experience small faults now—one hour, and it's sorted, whereas before we could easily go quite a long time without resolution." In Chimanimani's health facilities, the impact has been life changing. Clinical nurse Patricia Chikandi describes the transformation: "Reliable electricity has been a game-changer for us. During emergencies, we no longer worry about power cuts, and our vaccines are stored safely in temperature-controlled refrigerators. It has improved the quality of care we provide." Farai Ndlovu, a student at Chipinge High School, says, "With electricity back, we can use computers in the lab and study after dark. This is helping us prepare better for exams and giving us skills we wouldn't have access to otherwise." For agriculture workers, it means more earnings. "Before the power line was restored, our irrigation systems were unreliable, and we often lost crops,' says smallholder farmer Tsitsi Mutswairo. 'Now, with consistent electricity, our yields have improved significantly, and we're earning more from our produce." It's a similar story for Leonard Nyamukondiwa, an agro-processor in Chipinge. "Before the rehabilitation, we couldn't meet our targets because of constant outages. Now, we're able to process more produce, and our profits have increased." Electricity equals entrepreneurship Perhaps nowhere is the project's impact more visible than in Jacob Mukunukuji's workshop in Marimauta Village. Before the power line restoration, Jacob's business was severely constrained by the high cost of diesel generators. Now, with access to reliable three-phase industrial power, his small workshop has become a hub for skills development, training apprentices from local vocational centers, and creating a ripple effect of opportunity throughout the community. "Having electricity is very, very important because I can make whatever I want," Jacob explains, gesturing toward his creations—rip saw tables, grinding mills, and maize processing equipment that serve farmers across the region. He points to Paul, whom he trained and now employs as a welder in his workshop. "He is part of the fourth batch I am training. One of my first graduates, Danmore Majuta has his own copper workshop at Rusitu. Another female apprentice is manufacturing window frames and building materials for general local housing maintenance." A model for sustainable development Today, the lights are on in Chimanimani and Chipinge. Community elder and farmer Jeremiah Mutasa highlights the transformation: "The power lines have brought hope back to our region. We have electricity for our homes, our farms, and our schools. It's more than just power; it is the light that keeps our community alive." The project, which aligns with Zimbabwe's National Development Strategy (NDS1), demonstrates how targeted infrastructure investments can transform entire regions. As the African Development Bank's Power Engineer, Seaga Molepo sums it up: 'The electricity infrastructure interventions under this project exemplify the critical intersection of disaster recovery and sustainable development. The successful collaboration between the Bank, the Government of Zimbabwe, and UNOPS proves that when we align our efforts with clear strategic priorities – particularly 'Lighting and Powering Africa' – we can deliver transformative results that improve the quality of life for the people we serve.' Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB). About the African Development Bank Group: The African Development Bank Group is Africa's premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 41 African countries with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information:
Zawya
10-06-2025
- Health
- Zawya
United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) Executive Director to visit Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan
Jorge Moreira da Silva, UN Under-Secretary-General and UNOPS Executive Director, is scheduled to visit the Africa region, in a five-day visit that will take him to Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan. During his visit, Mr. Moreira da Silva will meet national authorities and development partners. He will discuss the practical solutions that UNOPS offer to partners to maximize the impact of their humanitarian, development and peace operations ―all in support of the Sustainable Development Goals. The visit also aims at getting a better understanding of the needs on the ground, and how UNOPS can scale operations to respond. UNOPS ongoing support in the region includes: In Sudan, where half of the population ―some 25 million people― need humanitarian assistance and protection, UNOPS is strengthening health infrastructure, improving access to clean, safe water, supporting peacekeeping operations to protect civilians, and facilitating a more sustainable and equitable use of natural resources. In Somalia, UNOPS works to strengthen the capacity of Somali institutions and supports partners in a range of sectors, such as health, governance, peace and security. We work to support reconstruction and state-building through disaster preparedness planning, crisis recovery, climate-resilient infrastructure and strengthening of the security sector. In Ethiopia, UNOPS works with partners to support national and international development priorities. Over the years, with our partners, we have helped strengthen health and education systems and supported food security. This includes environmentally friendly solutions and innovative models to modernize Ethiopia's agriculture sector, provide clean energy to off-grid areas and improve health services across the country. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations - Ethiopia.
