Dear friends,

Just last week in Beirut, Lebanon, on 21 March, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) was pleased to launch a new regional press freedom centre. With Beirut serving as a regional hub for media in the Middle East, the centre will provide journalists covering the war in Gaza and other conflicts in the region with the equipment, assistance, and resources they need to do their jobs as safely as possible.

Equipped with internet access, the Beirut centre will welcome journalists who wish to work there. RSF and its local partners will offer training in physical and digital security, particularly for journalists wishing to travel to Palestine. Access to psychological support and legal assistance will also be provided, as well as protective equipment needed to report safely in conflict zones, such as bullet-proof vests, helmets, and first-aid kits.

To open the Beirut press freedom centre, RSF has partnered with the Samir Kassir Foundation, which works to support media and cultural freedom in Lebanon and the rest of the Arab world. RSF will also have the support of regional organisations such as ARIJ (Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism), as well as Filastinyat, a women journalists’ organisation based in Ramallah.

It is thanks to your valuable support that RSF is able to launch concrete initiatives such as this to help journalists do their work in the most difficult conditions. Every donation is a vital help in our fight for press freedom and reliable information. Thank you, sincerely, for your generosity.