"Once again, as soon as the need arises, Scouts are immediately at work helping their communities" declared the Secretary General, witnessing ongoing activities in yesterday's visit to communities and villages in the Southern part of Lebanon.

In Joaya, local Scouts were preparing to receive 150 leaders and Rover Scouts in the coming days from around the country to join together in cleaning up, distributing relief and facilitating the children's integration in normal life through appropriate social support.

Both Ministers of Youth & Sports and Social Affairs, Dr. Fatfat and Mrs. Mouawad have pledged their full support to the Scout project. The UNICEF representative Mr. Roberto Laurenti immediately translated into concrete action the existing international partnership between that organisation and WOSM, providing the Scouts’ initiative with UNICEF's "recreation kits". Equally supportive was the representative of the European Commission and the Italian Ambassador, H.E Franco Mistretta, whom Dr. Missoni also met with during his mission.

"The rebirth of the Phoenix" is the name of the Scout project which will soon involve young people around the world in a chain of solidarity, mobilising financial resources and volunteers for environmental and health campaigns; educational programs for families, children and injured people; and helping national and local institutions in the rebuilding process.

At the dawn of their second century in 2007, Scouts will have donated to the Region a wonderful Gift for Peace.

In other news, the flag from Roverway 2006 arrived at Beirut port last week, and was presented to Georges Ghorayeb from the Lebanon Scout Federation, Magda Murr, WAGGGS World Board Member, both Presidents of the Scout and Guide Associations of Lebanon, and a group of more than fifty Scouts and Guides. The flag which was handed over by a representative of the Italian civil protection agency, and the boat's Captain, travelled to the Middle East as a message and wish for peace and brotherhood among the people of Lebanon and Israel.

In a moment of very high emotion at the port, Magda Murr stated "I would like to say thank you for the decision made at the closing ceremony of Roverway to send us this strong message of solidarity that has helped in healing some of our sadness. It confirms the universal dimension of the commitment of our movement to promoting peace and working towards implementing it in action not only words."

The flag from the Roverway 2006, the European event held in Italy, was sent as a gift from the Italian Scout and Guide Federation, with the European Committee for World Scouting and WAGGGS, and the Scouts and Guides who were at the event.