Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri received at the Second Presidency headquarters in Ain the Tineh the Chairman of the Board of Directors and General Manager of the Lebanese Administration for the Regulation of Tobacco and Tombac ("Regie"), Engineer Nassif Seklawi, accompanied by a delegation including board members. During the meeting, they reviewed Regie's work programs and the institution's preparations to receive crops, in addition to the repercussions resulting from the Israeli aggression on the tobacco cultivation sector and the farmers' sacrifices and suffering. After the meeting, Engineer Seklawi said: "We had the honor of visiting the Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Nabih Berri, especially as we are on the threshold of receiving whatever is possible of the tobacco crops from the farmers. We came to seek guidance and listen to the directives of Mr. President, who has always been and remains the primary patron and caretaker of the family of tobacco farmers." He added: "The truth is that we are facing a tragedy that has struck the farmers, as the Israeli aggression has caused the displacement of thousands of farmers from their villages and towns such as Aita al-Shaab, Aitaroun, Mays al-Jabal, Tulin, Al-Suwanah, Hadatha, Kafr Tibnit, Srifa, and many other villages that constitute the agricultural strongholds. More than 80 percent of the crop was not planted, and the rest are limited cases, in addition to the town of Rmeish, which was planted despite the blockade. Today, there was a meeting with the Army to coordinate the reception of the crop. Also, despite the aggression extending to the Bekaa, the farmers were able to cultivate their crops and we expect a nearly complete season, and similarly for Akkar we will also have a full season." Seklawi continued: "I wish to highlight the heroic steadfastness of the farmers and their adherence to their land, like the farmer Ali Fadl Al-Deeb from the town of Shhour, who was martyred while working on his land during the harvest, bringing the number of martyred tobacco farmers to 38 male and female martyrs. Stemming from our national and societal responsibility and the directives of Mr. President, we will do everything we can to help those who planted and those who did not. In this regard, I wish to stand by some cases that emerged in defiance of the aggression, as in Brikeh, Ras al-Ayn, Deir Amas, Burj al-Shamali, and Al-Babliyah, of individuals who planted despite the aggression and despite the bombardment over their heads." Minister of Public Health President Berri also received the Minister of Public Health, Dr. Rakan Nasser Al-Din, and discussed with him the general situation and political and field developments, particularly the health and hospital conditions and the ministry's work programs.