Keserwan: On 12 March 2026, Ambassador YOKOTA Kenji signed a Grant Contract with Mr. Gabriel Debbane, President of Oum el Nour Association, to provide funding for the construction of large-scale water storage tanks at two rehabilitation centres for drug addiction treatment in the Keserwan District. This project is supported through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) and aims to secure a reliable water supply for one of Lebanon's leading organisations dedicated to social recovery.

According to National News Agency - Lebanon, Oum el Nour Association operates the only residential rehabilitation facilities in Keserwan-one centre for women in Fatqa and the other for men in Sehaileh-serving more than 2,000 beneficiaries annually. Despite their critical role, both centres have faced chronic water shortages and high operational costs due to an insufficient public supply. This has threatened the delivery of essential services and placed key Agri-vocational programmes at the risk of suspension. Through Japan's assistance, the project will support the installation of two large-scale water storage tanks (200 cubic metres in Fatqa and 360 cubic metres in Sehaileh) to ensure a stable and dependable water supply. This initiative will consequently strengthen the centres' operational sustainability, enable patients to fully resume their rehabilitation programmes, and thereby significantly improve the living conditions and recovery outcomes for those seeking to reintegrate into society.

At the signing ceremony, Ambassador YOKOTA reaffirmed Japan's continued commitment to supporting the most vulnerable populations in Lebanon. For their part, Oum el Nour thanked the Government of Japan for its generous support and highlighted the importance of this assistance in sustaining vital social services and improving the quality of life for residents amid the ongoing economic crisis.