“The UK no longer advises against travel to Baalbek, and I’m delighted to have explored this remarkable city myself today, hearing about life here, seeing our current support and talking about more,” British Ambassador to Lebanon Chris Rampling said on Tuesday.

Rampling visited Baalbek as part of “the UK’s ongoing support to Lebanese communities” and to hear from its residents and officials about their challenges and opportunities, the British embassy said in a statement.

He also visited UK funded projects under the Lebanon Host Communities Support Program, a partnership between the Ministry of Social Affairs and the United Nations Development Program.

Rampling toured the city’s historical ruins accompanied by the Governor of the Bekaa, Bashir Khodr, MP Antoine Habshi, heads of municipalities and mayors from the Baalbek-Hermel region.

At the Social Development Center (SDC), the Ambassador heard how SDC is providing medical assistance for both Lebanese citizens and displaced Syrians living in Baalbek.

“This is one of several projects funded between 2014-2018 benefiting thousands of residents. Other examples include the construction of a wastewater network, support to the Qalaa Agrofood Cooperative, and rehabilitation of the local Old Souq where half of the beneficiaries are women,” the embassy said.

After the visit, Ambassador Rampling said: “I am pleased to return to the Bekaa and visit the City of The Sun – in December, the UK lifted advice against travel to Baalbek, and I am sure British citizens will visit this spectacular city and learn about its history.”

“I want to thank the Governor of the Bekaa Bashir Khodr and city officials for the warm welcome. We recognize the huge challenges facing many local business and municipalities. I am encouraged that since 2014, UKAid’s contribution to the Baalbek Hermel region has been over $3.5 million, reaching over 125,000 beneficiaries, half of which are women. Communities here are doing the best they can to respond to this unprecedented regional crisis,” the ambassador added.

“I was pleased to see how the renovated Social Development Center (SDC) is able to offer many medical services including a dentistry clinic, support to pregnant women and their newborn babies, provide food coupons for the needy, and free entrance to vocational training amongst many other activities,” Rampling went on to say.

He also saluted “the generosity and hospitality of the Lebanese population and of the local municipalities given the terrible crisis in Syria -- particularly in the Bekaa region that is hosting the highest number of refugees in Lebanon.”

“Through the LHSP program, the UK is supporting over 1 in 5 municipalities by providing financial support of $64.2m to help improve the quality and delivery of basic services, at the local level, in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Affairs and UNDP,” Rampling added.