Portfolio Lebanon

Country in the Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, 10,400 sq km. Population 2006 approx. 3,9  million. Population composition: Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1%.

Cause and scope of the landmine problem
15 years of civil war coupled with 22 years of Israeli occupation of Southern Lebanon has left the country with a considerable problem of mine- and UXO contamination.

Until 2005, 150 million square meters had been recorded as suspected hazardous areas and approximately 33 million square meters of these dangerous areas had been cleared by the national army, the UN, international NGOS and private operators. A national plan was in place as to clear all remaining high and medium impact communities throughout Lebanon by 2009 and remaining areas by 2015.

During the war between Israel and Hezbollah during the summer of 2006, 928 new strikes with cluster bombs have been recorded. The sub munitions of these bombs are suspected to cover 37.1 million square meters.  12 months after the war ended in August 2006, the Lebanese Army, UNIFIL battalions, and a number of international NGOs and private operators had cleared 15 million square meters of these cluster strikes and safely destroyed approximately 130,000 cluster munitions.

Since the war in 2006, 206 accidents have occurred among civilians, of which 122 lost their life. 42 operators engaged in Battle Area Clearance in South Lebanon have had accidents. 31 of these lost their lives.

NPA history in the country
After the liberation of South Lebanon, NPA launched a Landmine Victim Assistance and Mine Risk Education Program in Lebanon in cooperation with local partners in 2001. NPA provides medical rehabilitation to mine victims and provides financial, managerial and technical assistance to national partner NGOs involved in Mine Victims Assistance Mine Risk Education projects such as micro-credit to mine victims and community meetings about the risk of cluster munitions.  NPA is a co-chair of the National Committee for Mine Risk Education and The National Committee for Mine Victims Assistance together with the Lebanon’s Mine Action Center and UNICEF.

Following the war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006, NPA established a Battle Area Clearance Project in South Lebanon to support the efforts by the National Mine Action Center to remove the clear all cluster munitions as soon as possible.

Capacity
Within Mine Victims Assistance and Mine Risk Education, NPA operates through NGOs and in partnership with the National Demining Office with one project coordinator.

The Battle Area Clearance Programme has 62 staff, including 4 international staff members.

Donors
The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Links

Landmine Monitor Report for Lebanon: http://www.icbl.org/lm/2007/lebanon