Lebanese president Michel Aoun (c) presenting the second class medal of the Lebanese Order of merit to Lebanese Red Cross Vice President Myriam Ghandour at the presidential palace in Baabda, on Oct. 26 2022. (Credit: NNA)
Lebanese President Michel Aoun awarded the Lebanese Red Cross (LRC) the second class medal of the Order of Merit Wednesday, praising its "dynamic" action throughout the country.
LRC Vice President Myriam Ghandour received the medal in the afternoon at the presidential palace in Baabda, in the presence of members of the Red Cross executive committee.
During the ceremony, Aoun praised "the sacrifices of the president, members and volunteers of the LRC who have always been ready to intervene throughout the territory, with dynamism, to face all kind of crises."
He also praised "their intensive efforts in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and helping the relatives of the victims of the Aug. 4, 2020 explosions."
With the deepening of Lebanon's economic crisis, the Lebanese Red Cross is a funding challenge. Images circulated of volunteer ambulance drivers pushing one of their vehicles caused an outcry on social media during the pandemic.
Just days before the end of his term, Aoun took the opportunity to bestow many honorary insignia. Earlier Wednesday, he decorated his adviser Selim Jreissati and Mount Lebanon Public Prosecutor Ghada Aoun, who is reputedly close to the president.