On April 3, 2025, Notre Dame University (NDU) hosted a special ceremony to honor General Brigadier Nabil Farah, Acting Director General of Lebanon’s Civil Defense, and the entire Civil Defense team. This distinguished event was a continuation of the Solidarity Book Fair held in December 2024, which aimed to raise funds for the Civil Defense following the hardships caused by the recent war, which deeply impacted both the organization and the nation.
The guest of honor was accompanied by his wife, Najwa Soueidan Farah, Director of Joint Administration at the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities, along with a delegation of administrators, center heads, and personnel. Among the prominent attendees were Ambassador Mohamad Noor Rahman Sheikh, the Indian Ambassador to Lebanon; Ernesto Romero Bock, the Mexican Head of Mission at the Mexican Embassy; H.E. MP Nicolas Sehnaoui; Her Highness Princess Hayat Arslan, Coordinator of the Civil Society Dialogue Table; and General Rodolphe Haykal, Commander of the Lebanese Army, represented by Brigadier General Walid Meshmoushi, Commander of the Mount Lebanon Region.
Also present were Brigadier General Hassan Choucair, Director General of General Security, represented by Lieutenant Rana Asfour, Head of the Regional Public Security Office in Keserwan; Major General Edgard Lawandos, Director General of State Security, represented by Lieutenant Labib Souhaid; Head of the Lebanese Forces Party, Dr. Samir Geagea, represented by H.E. MP Razi El Hage; and Head of the The Lebanese Phalange (Kataeb) Party, Samy Gemayel, represented by lawyer Michel Hakim, Head of the Keserwan Region.
Other key figures included H.E. MP Melhem Riachi, represented by Awad Tabet; H.E. Dr. Khalil Karam, President of the Maronite League; Michel Matta, President of the Maronite General Council; Brigadier General Pierre Farah, Head of Army Intelligence Branch in Keserwan; Brigadier General Johnny Khalaf; Joan Hobeiche, President of the Union of Municipalities of Keserwan-Ftouh; Judge Jean Fahd, Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council; and Roy Maroun Eid, member of the American Task Force on Lebanon (ATFL) and founding member of the American Help for Lebanon Association (AHLA). NDU was represented by Father President Bechara Khoury, Majed Bou Hadir, Director of the Office of Protocol and Public Affairs, and various academic and administrative staff.
In his address, Bou Hadir emphasized the valor of the Civil Defense team, stating, “We send out 125 salutes to the Civil Defense family, who risk their lives to save others, extinguish fires, and assist the injured.” He also acknowledged NDU President Fr. Khoury’s ongoing commitment to this cause, dating back to the organization of the Solidarity Book Fair.
Fr. Khoury underscored the pivotal role of the Civil Defense, citing an inspiring Biblical verse. He also spoke about NDU’s strong commitment to instilling values of responsibility among its students, which go hand-in-hand with their academic development.
General Farah expressed his genuine gratitude to NDU, its President, and the NDU Libraries for organizing the Solidarity Book Fair in support of Lebanon's Civil Defense. “You, students, are changemakers, through your tangible, material and mental support,” he remarked. He also highlighted the diverse responsibilities of the Civil Defense, including responding to natural disasters, managing chemical accidents, and fostering safety awareness through collaborations with schools and international organizations. " We lost 29 members and had 78 injured during the recent war, but we keep going despite the lack of resources, thanks to our volunteers’ amazing spirit."
Despite the ongoing challenges Lebanon faces—be it economic, social, or political—Farah conveyed optimism for a new era. He also noted that President Joseph Aoun has committed to providing a robust strategy and budget to strengthen the Civil Defense, acknowledging its invaluable contributions.
The event concluded with a thorough presentation on the structure, achievements, and future plans of the Civil Defense. More importantly, the audience was also informed that the funds raised during the Solidarity Book Fair were invested in purchasing essential rescue ropes, critical for many life-saving operations.