Lebanon Launches the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre at Beirut Naval Base

Lebanon Launches the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre at Beirut Naval Base

Under the patronage and in the presence of General Rodolphe Haykal, Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces, Lebanon today inaugurated its Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) at Beirut Naval Base. The Centre was established with funding from the European Union and the French Republic under the project "Disaster Management, Port and Maritime Reform for Economic Recovery", with technical and advisory support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and other partners.

The JRCC, the first of its kind in Lebanon, is designed to strengthen the Armed Forces' capacity to protect lives at sea and oversee Lebanese territorial waters. Its work is grounded in the four pillars of disaster risk management: prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery. The Centre will coordinate maritime emergency response, enabling faster and more effective action in cases of distress calls, maritime accidents, and migrant rescues.

The Centre also promotes civil-military cooperation, bringing together the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, the Lebanese Armed Forces, the Internal Security Forces, General Security, Civil Defense, and other relevant ministries. It integrates staff from multiple national institutions and agencies, as well as UNIFIL's Maritime Task Force.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Ms. Nathalie Zaarour, representing the Ministry of Public Works and Transport; H.E. Sandra De Waele, Ambassador of the European Union to Lebanon; H.E. Hervé Magro, Ambassador of France to Lebanon; and Ms. Blerta Aliko, UNDP Resident Representative in Lebanon, alongside several Directors-General, representatives of security agencies, government institutions, and international organizations.

In his remarks, General Rodolphe Haykal underlined the urgent need for a national centre of this kind, operating in line with international standards. He stated: "The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre is first and foremost a humanitarian message before being a technical achievement. It reflects a true partnership between the Lebanese Armed Forces, friendly nations, and international organizations to safeguard every human life-whether citizen or passerby."

He also highlighted the Army's ongoing missions across Lebanon: maintaining domestic security and stability, monitoring and securing the northern and eastern borders, leading the national counter-terrorism effort, combating smuggling and drug trafficking, and reinforcing state authority across all Lebanese territory. He concluded by thanking the European Union, the French authorities, and all partners who contributed to the establishment of the Centre.

EU Ambassador to Lebanon Sandra De Waele said that: "The EU provided IT equipment, secure communications, and connectivity. We also delivered rescue equipment and training for the Lebanese Armed Forces and other agencies."

French Ambassador to Lebanon Hervé Magro emphasized France's continued commitment, stressing: "France will continue to support this project, both in the training of personnel-primarily locally but also in mainland France-and in sharing its extensive experience in the field. The planned visits of French military vessels, expected to increase, will notably facilitate this support and gradual progress."

UNDP Resident Representative Blerta Aliko underscored the human dimension of the initiative, stating: "Above all, this project is about people-saving lives, protecting vulnerable communities, and reinforcing public confidence in the State's ability to respond. With continued collaboration among Lebanon's institutions and international partners, the country will be better prepared to manage risks at sea and ensure safety for all.