A delegation of the “Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict” in cooperation with the “Permanent Peace Movement”, made a visit to South Lebanon in order to get familiar with the region after the war.
Accompanied by the secretary-general of DPNA Assembly, Fadlallah Hassouna, the delegation visited the “Litani River”, where the delegation expressed great interest in its strategic importance. The second destination was “Kfar Kila”, in particular the “Gate of Fatima”, where the delegation was surprised how close the Israeli settlements are. "It's amazing to see the region that much clear, you cannot but feel awe of all this military presence," as expressed by Marty Hellema, representative of the Netherlands in the Global Partnership.

Afterwards the delegation headed to “Marjayoun” in order to meet the district commissioner, Wissam Hayek, in the City Hall of Marjayoun. One of the topics addressed during the meeting was the weak investments in the region and the dependence on the primitive agricultural field. Hayek also stressed the need for different types of factories to improve the economic situation of the region and thus creating new job opportunities. The only factories available in the region are the olive oil factories and soap factories that are primitive and seasonal by nature and not sufficient for the advancement of the region as required economically. Hayek also praised the attempts of the associations to improve the present situation, saying that what is required goes beyond the capacity of these associations, pointing to the absence of one university in the region, forcing young people to turn to the Nabatieh, Sidon or Beirut to continue their education.
 

Hayek added about the weak powers of the citizen saying that: "The power of the citizen on the state is weak, the public does not want war, but war occurs because the peoples’ influence on decision-makers is small, thus highlighting the importance of the work of associations such as the Permanent Peace Movement and Global Partnership for the promotion of the citizen's effect on the authority ".
With regards to the relation with the UNIFIL, Hayek denied the problems between the UNIFIL, the Lebanese army and the citizens, pointing to the desire of the citizen of a fairer point of view of the UNIFIL in Lebanon.
The meeting was followed by another meeting with the mayor of “Khiyam”, Abbas Awada and the mayor of “Bourj El Molouk”, Sulaiman Sulaiman, and head of the civil services in UNIFIL Captain Aranda.

During the meeting, the role of UNIFIL was discussed in the matter of helping the citizens and their integration in society as it should. Awada also praised the role of UNIFIL, but did not hide the lack of confidence of the Lebanese because of the "permanent bias to Israel" and Israel's non-compliance with its decisions. Awada also focused on the need to strengthen the peace process for the development of growth process for the advancement of the region. Growth would certainly be delayed when the destruction is continuing. He also described what is introduced as relatively weak if compared to the damage and destruction that took place in addition to the suffering of the people. He considered that international organizations have a major role in promoting the peace movement and thus the development: "because the investor will not invest in a place where his investment is threatened."
In commenting on the speech of Awada, Captain Aranda sees that development will happen, but it takes time. And any development will not happen through the UNIFIL, but needs the interference of the government, the army and the UNIFIL. He pointed to the existence of a budget that the UNIFIL tries to spend in the best way to the region. Aranda also saw that UNIFIL has made remarkable progress, explaining: "We are here upon the request of the Lebanese government and its support. Our role is supervision and we did not come to replace the State but to support it. Responsibility does not lie on the UNIFIL only, but we share it with the state and the army as well. Aranda felt that progress is slow but significant and the best proof is the opening of the waste treatment project in the region.

At the end of the meeting, the global partnership cited that the purpose of these visits is to exchange views and explore the fact that people's views and then discussion about the possibilities of providing assistance and it will try to work with members of the Organization in New York to put pressure on the Council of the United Nations and give the true image and opinions that have been explored and proposed.