Key developments since May 2004: Lebanon
attended and made statements at the First Review Conference in 2004 and the
intersessional meetings in June 2005. The Landmine Impact Survey, released in
February 2005, found 28 highly impacted communities and over 250 communities
with medium or low impact. National technical survey started in April 2005. In
August 2004, Lebanon finalized its End-State Strategy for Mine Action and
Long-Term Plan (2005-2009); this sets the goal of clearing high and medium
impact areas by 2010. In 2004, more than two square kilometers of mine-affected
land was cleared, destroying 2,929 antipersonnel mines, 287 antivehicle mines
and 5,991 UXO. Since 2002, Operation Emirates Solidarity has cleared and
released to the community over 4.9 square kilometers of mined and mine-suspected
land in former Israeli-occupied territories in South Lebanon. The project
closed in June 2004, with clearance uncompleted in Area 6. Lebanon received
US$9.7 million in international mine action funding in 2004, in addition to $4
million of government assistance. There was a significant decrease in mine
casualties in 2004. Assistance to mine survivors was identified as a national
mine action priority.
Mine Ban Policy
The Republic of Lebanon has not acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty. Lebanon was
one of 25 non-States Parties to attend the First Review Conference of the Mine
Ban Treaty in Nairobi in November-December
2004.[1] In a statement to the high
level segment, Lebanon stressed its progress in different aspects of mine
action, but reiterated its reasons for not acceding to the treaty, which are
focused on the continuing conflict with
Israel.[2] The statement concluded by
noting that Lebanon “confirms his beliefs in the principles of the Ottawa
Convention and its noble objectives, and looks forward to joining the treaty as
soon as the above mentioned reasons cease to
exist.”[3]
On 3 December 2004, Lebanon abstained from voting on UN General Assembly
Resolution 59/84 calling for universalization of the Mine Ban Treaty. In
December 1999, Lebanon became the first and only country to ever vote against
the annual UNGA resolution supporting the treaty; it has since abstained each
year.
Lebanon attended the Mine Ban Treaty intersessional meetings in Geneva in
June 2005. It made presentations before two Standing Committees, providing
details of its mine risk education and victim assistance programs. Lebanon also
attended all the intersessional meetings in 2003 and 2004.
Lebanon is not a member of the Convention on Conventional Weapons or its
Amended Protocol II.
Production, Transfer, Stockpiling and Use
In December 2004, Lebanon confirmed that it “has never produced or
exported antipersonnel
mines.”[4] The Lebanese Army
stockpiles an unknown number of antipersonnel mines. There was speculation that
when Syrian troops withdrew from Lebanon, starting in April 2005, they took
various weapons with them, including
landmines.[5]
There were no confirmed reports of the use of antipersonnel mines by any
party, including non-state actors, in Lebanon in 2004 or the first half of 2005.
The last known use of antipersonnel mines in Lebanon was by Israel and non-state
armed groups, likely Hezbollah, in occupied South Lebanon in 1999 and prior to
the May 2000 Israeli withdrawal. Hezbollah has not considered signing the
Geneva Call Deed of Commitment for non-state actors, which would commit it to a
prohibition on antipersonnel mines; Hezbollah has declared that it is not a
non-state armed group, but rather a nationally accepted and supported resistance
working to liberate the occupied areas of Lebanon from
Israel.[6]
Landmine and UXO Problem
From the beginning of the civil war in 1975 until the end of the Israeli
occupation in 2000, mines and other ordnance were used extensively, leaving
behind a legacy of antipersonnel and antivehicle mines, and unexploded ordnance
(UXO) including cluster bomblets. Mine/UXO contamination is found virtually
throughout the country, with the heaviest concentration of mined areas in the
south, in territory formerly occupied by Israeli forces. As of 2005,
Lebanon’s border with Israel continues to be a potential flashpoint, and
the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which has been in place since 1978,
continues with its peacekeeping
operations.[7]
An estimated 75 percent of the more than 400,000 suspected landmines still in
the ground are in the immediate area of the UN delineated “blue
line,” affecting more than 90,000 inhabitants. The remaining 100,000
mines are littered throughout the remainder of the
country.[8]
Approximately 25 square kilometers of land have been cleared since 1982.
However, the Landmine Impact Survey completed in 2003 and released in early 2005
estimated that 22 out of 24 districts, covering 137 square kilometers, are still
affected to some degree by mines and/or UXO. It found 28 highly impacted
communities and more than 250 communities with medium or low impact. The
Lebanese Army counts approximately 2,500 minefields and suspected danger areas
throughout the country, affecting 306 communities, with a total of more than one
million people (some 30 percent of the
population).[9]
The socioeconomic impact of mines and UXO remains significant, especially in
areas where it impedes the return of displaced people, such as in the provinces
of South Lebanon and Mount Lebanon. In the south, mines are an obstacle to a
major drinking and irrigation water pipeline project. They contaminate
agricultural land, hindering the return of displaced people. Mines and UXO also
continue to contaminate certain areas of shoreline in Beirut, Tabarja, Tripoli
and the province of South
Lebanon.[10]
Most of the 2,500 remaining minefields in Lebanon are not marked to
international standards due to lack of funding. Marking is a task remaining for
the National Demining Office; it will be addressed during the execution of the
National Technical Survey
Project.[11] Fencing along the blue
line was started in 2005 by the Lebanese Army Engineer Regiment; as of June,
some 8.8 kilometers of minefield boundaries posing a direct threat to the
community had been marked and
fenced.[12]
Mine Action Program
The Minister of Defense is responsible for mine action in Lebanon, and the
National Demining Office (NDO), as part of the Lebanese Armed Forces, is
responsible for coordinating, managing and implementing all mine action
activities. A special advisor for mine action assists the Minister of Defense.
NDO has established two committees, for mine risk education and for survivor
assistance, which meet regularly to coordinate their
activities.[13] NDO
responsibilities also include information management and the regulatory process,
including national standards, accreditation and licensing, and quality
management.[14]
A UN Mine Action Coordination Center for South Lebanon (MACC SL) was
established in Tyre in 2002 as part of the United Arab Emirates-funded Operation
Emirates Solidarity (OES) demining project in South Lebanon. Since the project
closed in June 2004, MACC SL continues providing a planning, coordination and
quality assurance capability to mine action operations undertaken in South
Lebanon.[15]
The UN Demining Coordination Cell coordinates and manages operations
undertaken by the Ukrainian battalion mine clearance platoon in support of the
UNIFIL mission. The mission’s operational area is defined as the
approximately 700 square kilometer area south of the Litani
River.[16]
Since December 2003, no meeting of the donor group, the International Support
Group for Mine Action in Lebanon, has taken place. A meeting scheduled for
February 2005 was cancelled as a result of deterioration in the political
situation following the assassination of Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. However,
bilateral contacts between NDO, the Ministry of Defense and major stakeholders
and donor countries continued in 2004 and
2005.[17]
No national mine action legislation exists in Lebanon. In November 2003,
however, the Minister of Defense and the UN Development Programme (UNDP)
Resident Representative signed a memorandum of understanding to launch the
Lebanon Mine Action Strategic Review project. The completed review incorporated
Landmine Impact Survey data and resulted in the first End-State Strategy (ESS)
for Mine Action in Lebanon, submitted by NDO to the Minister of Defense for
approval and distribution in August 2004. Subsequently, NDO released its first
annual report (covering 2003) in May 2004 and its first integrated workplan in
August 2004. The strategic review permitted the creation by NDO of a new
planning system, incorporating the ESS for mine action in Lebanon, long-term
plans, the annual integrated workplan and reporting
system.[18] The first step of this
strategy was the Long-Term Plan
2005-2009.[19]
Capacity-building assistance to NDO is currently provided by the US
Department of State, UNDP and the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS). Efforts have
focused on increasing the technical knowledge of national personnel and
transitioning the Lebanon mine action program to a nationally managed
sustainable program. NDO is expected to rely on external capacity-building
assistance until 2009, although advisory services will be reduced over
time.[20]
NDO and MACC SL use the Information Management System for Mine Action
(IMSMA), which was upgraded to version 3.190 in December 2004; training in this
version was undertaken. IMSMA is maintained at NDO and receives data for all of
Lebanon. Information related to the area south of the Litani River is managed
by MACC SL. All information is synchronized periodically so that both NDO and
MACC SL databases are fully updated. In March 2004, a real-time IMSMA read-only
terminal was installed in the UNIFIL Demining Coordination Cell, allowing UNIFIL
staff to obtain updates from the IMSMA database as new information is entered.
In 2005, NDO planned to develop national information management standards and
standard operating
procedures.[21]
As of 2005, NDO is hosting a UNDP chief technical advisor and an
international technical advisor for IMSMA assisted by two national officers. In
2004, NDO’s deputy director and information management officer attended
the UNDP senior managers mine action course at James Madison University in the
US, and three Lebanese Army officers attended the UNDP middle managers mine
action course held in Amman.[22]
The US program assisting humanitarian demining in Lebanon continued to
provide mine clearance and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) training and
demining equipment to NDO. The support included development of standard
operating procedures and the transfer to NDO of 18 mine detection dogs (MDD) and
accompanying handlers trained by RONCO. In addition, the US provided training
and equipment to NDO and the Lebanese Army Engineers Regiment for conducting a
nationwide technical survey.[23]
National technical and standards guidelines were amended during 2004, based
on the International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) issued in 2003. NDO plans to
develop national standards for the other pillars of mine action in 2005. IMAS
mine risk education standards are not fully applied in Lebanon, but national
guidelines are followed in all mine risk education trainings; the
Arabic-language training manual produced in Lebanon is based on these
guidelines.[24]
In 2004, mine clearance was carried out by Lebanese Army Engineer Regiment
demining teams (350 personnel plus a Syrian engineer detachment), the NGOs Mines
Advisory Group (MAG) and International Mine Initiative, the UNIFIL Ukrainian
demining battalion, and the OES project which includes MACC SL and the
commercial company BACTEC.
The ESS is an attempt to integrate mine action with the country’s
overall development strategy. It contains 12 guidelines for implementation.
The concept is based on the assumption that Lebanon, like other countries that
have experienced war or preparations for war, is unlikely to become completely
free of mines. Thus, it seeks to create a national capacity to deal with
residual contamination after the mine action program has formally been
completed.
The “demining end-state condition” is stated as one in which
“all known dangerous areas where there is substantive threat to life and
limb or which hinder successful socioeconomic development are demined to a level
that is As Low As Reasonably Acceptable (ALARA) according to national
laws and standards, and international and mine action standards.” It also
identifies the need for an effective EOD capacity to map cleared or marked
dangerous areas, and the need for coordination between mine/UXO awareness needs
and demining.[25]
The Long-Term Plan 2005-2009 describes plans to clear all high and medium
priority areas by late 2010. Future long-term plans will be developed with the
overall goal of achieving a mine and UXO impact-free Lebanon within 10-15
years.[26]
Integrated workplans were developed by NDO for 2004 and 2005. Objectives
stated in the 2004 workplan are set in terms of supervision and coordination of
clearance tasks implemented by demining operators as part of the OES project by
the Army Engineer Regiment and NGOs. NDO was also to conduct quality assurance
for tasks cleared by commercial companies and NGOs. Technical safety guidelines
were to be updated according to the plan, and preparatory planning work was
needed to pave the way for the technical survey due to start in
2005.[27] In addition to
supervision and coordination of demining, the new operational objective of the
2005 workplan is technical survey to further identify the mine problem and as a
process of area reduction.[28]
Lebanon is giving increased attention to post-clearance humanitarian factors
and support to socioeconomic development, especially in South Lebanon. As noted
by an NDO officer, “there is a need to mobilize resources, and to make a
smooth transition from the emphasis on humanitarian mine action to the support
of socioeconomic
development.”[29] In 2004,
the UNDP socioeconomic project based in Tyre in South Lebanon drafted project
proposals to be used as a resource mobilization tool for rehabilitation of areas
cleared by the OES.
Survey and Assessment
The Lebanon Landmine Impact Survey (LIS), conducted by MAG with technical
support from the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation, was completed in August
2003 and certified by UNMAS in September 2004. The report was released in
February 2005. According to the LIS, there are 28 highly-impacted communities
and more than 250 communities with medium or low impact. LIS data has been
entered into the NDO and MACC SL
databases.[30]
In 2004, technical survey was carried out by all mine clearance organizations
prior to each minefield task in order to reduce the size of suspected
areas.[31]
The national technical survey started in April 2005, undertaken by NDO and
the Army, with the support of the US Department of State and Department of
Defense. It is based on the LIS results and expected to last 12-16 months. The
US provided equipment as part of its Train and Equip program, and provided
training, in collaboration with the company RONCO, for the Army on technical
surveying and area reduction from January to March
2005.[32] The technical survey was
launched in Mount Lebanon.[33]
During 2004, UN and Army planning officers conducted a limited level one
survey of the suspected mine contamination in OES Area 6, in order to ascertain
the requirements for further general survey, technical survey and clearance. It
was determined that the remaining mine and UXO threat within the former occupied
area (excluding the blue line) is located in the Nabatieh-Jezzine-Hasbaiya area,
and lies between the Litani and Awuali Rivers. The total area is 583,233,908
square meters, with an estimated 2,128,650 square meters contaminated by
landmines. Reconnaissance and information gathering was completed in June
2005.[34]
In September 2003, MACC SL began enhancing the measurement of mine action
impact in the OES cleared areas. This involved the completion in August 2004 of
a post-clearance review conducted by MACC SL and UNDP with Lebanese Army
participation. The general findings confirmed that landowners of the cleared
areas (OES Areas 1-5) had confidence in the clearance process and were using the
land for agricultural purposes. Some former agricultural land was used for
house construction. Some villages have recently had new power lines and
underground telephone lines installed, and many of the villages have new
schools. A gradual increase in the number of returnees to the area has been
noticed.[35] On 10 March 2005, the
Australian Ambassador to Lebanon inaugurated the renovated water reservoir in
Beit Yahoun. The need for its rehabilitation was identified through the
post-clearance review; the UNIFIL Ukrainian battalion, MACC SL and Australian
Embassy all committed funds to this
project.[36]
Mine and UXO Clearance
Lebanon plans to clear all high and medium priority mine-affected areas by
late 2010, with the overall goal of rendering all areas free of the impact of
mines and UXO within 10-15 years. The “end-state” for demining is
stated in general terms of “as low as reasonably
acceptable.”[37] Areas for
demining operations are selected among the 28 highly-impacted communities in the
Bekaa Valley, North Lebanon, South Lebanon and Nabatieh provinces, and the 164
medium-impacted communities in the Bekaa Valley, North Lebanon, Mount Lebanon
and Nabatieh provinces, according to the priorities established by the
LIS.[38]
NDO reported that in 2004 a total of 2,083,459 square meters was cleared by
the Lebanese Army Engineers Regiment and international organizations; 2,929
antipersonnel mines, 287 antivehicle mines and 5,991 UXO were found and
destroyed. From 8 January to 1 April 2005, a further 21,925 square meters were
cleared and 228 antipersonnel mines, four antivehicle mines and two UXO were
destroyed.[39] Demining of OES
Areas 1-5 was completed in May 2004, releasing more than 4.9 square kilometers
of land to local communities since the OES started in 2001. Area 6, which was
added to the OES project later and includes mine-affected villages and
communities within the former Israeli occupied area (excluding areas along the
blue line), remains to be
cleared.[40] As of June 2005, MACC
SL and NDO were involved in raising funds for clearance of the remaining
area.
In 2004, the Lebanese Army’s four demining companies (each consisting
of 60 operational and 15 support staff) cleared 1,720,000 square meters,
destroying 130 antipersonnel mines, 47 antivehicle mines and 5,451
UXO.[41] The Army used manual,
mechanical and dog clearance methods with nine MDD teams (18 dogs and nine
handlers), and one Amtrac 100 machine with two operators and two manual
deminers. Army teams were deployed throughout the country, in Kfar-falous,
Nabatieh, West Bekaa and Mount Lebanon. Three detachments from the Syrian Army
supported the Army demining teams in
2004.[42] All EOD/UXO tasking from
MACC SL was sent to the Army EOD teams for
action.[43] The Army also deployed
a sampling and survey team in South Lebanon consisting of nine deminers and one
officer; the team completed all sampling tasks issued by MACC SL in 2004 and
conducted technical survey operations. As of March 2005, the sampling team was
conducting manual clearance in the area of
Ghandourieh.[44]
Mine Clearance in 2004 by Army and International
Organizations[45]
BACTEC was deployed during 2004 in South Lebanon in phase three of the OES
project, which consisted of the clearance of OES Area 5, as well as a
“sweep through” of OES Areas 1-5, which lasted four months (19
January-29 May 2004). BACTEC utilized 104 deminers, 27 battle area clearance
searchers and 97 staff for supervising, technical support, administration and
medical support. There were six MDD teams and 100 metal detectors, 4 Bozena
mini-flails, one Armtrak 100 flail, one vegetation cutter, one armored Bulldozer
and one Boardloop detector.[47] In
this phase of the OES project, 66 dangerous areas were addressed, resulting in
approximately 91,000 square meters of land cleared and 1,461 landmines located
and destroyed.[48]
Operation Emirates Solidarity formally closed on 6 June 2004, as funding for
the original project (Areas 1-5)
ceased.[49] In Area 6, which
remained to be completed, all minefields and dangerous areas had been visited
and information gathered as of May 2005. Funding for clearance was requested
from Saudi Arabia.[50] The total
required for mine/UXO clearance, technical survey, quality assurance and
operational planning of Area 6 is estimated as almost $15
million.[51]
The OES project cleared 4,932,434 square meters in 2003-2004, and destroyed
56,455 antipersonnel mines, 1,637 antivehicle mines and 4,211 UXO from 2002 to
2004.[52]
Following closure of the OES project, BACTEC’s Lebanese deminers
offered their services for free to continue the demining effort in South
Lebanon. A team of 20 deminers was provided with equipment, vehicles and
insurance coverage by BACTEC. Operations lasted one month and the team cleared
1,238 square meters, 37 antivehicle mines and nine
UXO.[53]
Mines Advisory Group conducted technical survey and mine clearance in Deir El
Qamar, Mount Lebanon and Chouf during 2004. It cleared some 130,000 square
meters and investigated 1,100,000 square meters of suspected areas that have
been subsequently cancelled and returned to local communities; 131 antipersonnel
and antivehicle mines, and 67 UXO were
destroyed.[54] MAG deployed two
mine action teams, one mechanical support team, a community liaison officer and
other personnel; in total there were 62 national and two international
staff.[55]
MAG continued technical survey and mine clearance in Deir El Qamar, Mount
Lebanon and Chouf until May 2005, and in Kfar Tibnit, Nabatieh and Blatt,
Marjioun until the end of June 2005. Since 6 May, all MAG teams have been
deployed in Nabatieh, part of OES Area 6, with Norwegian funding for one year
until 31 May 2006. MAG contracted Danminar to deploy a two-dog/one handler
team, but in June 2005 the team left Lebanon because it was unable to pass the
field assessment for
accreditation.[56] From January
until June 2005, MAG cleared about 40,000 square meters of land, and lifted and
destroyed 11 mines and 15 UXO.[57]
The Greek NGO International Mine Initiative (IMI) deployed 14 deminers, one
MDD team, eight administration staff and one Maria flail for mine clearance in
Nabatieh, which worked until closure of the OES project in June 2004. IMI
started operations in Lebanon in December
2002.[58]
Ukrainian Army’s Third Engineer Battalion (URKBATT) conducted
verification and clearance of patrol routes along the blue line and other
suspected areas in 2003-2004. In 2004, UKRBATT cleared 35,310 square meters,
destroying 1,008 antipersonnel mines, three antivehicle mines and 52 UXO.
UNIFIL has deployed UKRBATT since January
2001.[59]
During operations in 2004, one Lebanese Army deminer was injured. In 2005,
two Army deminers were injured while conducting mine clearance
operations.[60] No accidents in the
OES project in 2004 were reported by MACC SL.
Both NDO and MACC SL conduct quality assurance and quality control of the
operations they supervise. This involves accreditation, licensing and
monitoring of the work performed by the clearance organizations. MACC SL is
assisted by Lebanese Army quality assurance officers for operations in South
Lebanon. Lebanese Army sampling teams accredited and deployed during 2004 were
also tasked by MACC SL to conduct quality control involving random sampling of
cleared areas.[61]
Mine Risk Education
In 2004-2005, NDO continued to be the focal point for all mine risk education
(MRE) in Lebanon. NDO’s Mine Risk Education Committee (NMREC) oversees
the training of MRE activists and MRE implementation. Working as the
implementing coordinator with funding partners such as UNICEF, World
Rehabilitation Fund (WRF), Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA), local NGOs and
mine clearance organizations, NDO implements a holistic MRE campaign designed to
target all sectors of the population. The campaign is based on a needs
assessment undertaken region by region, supervised by NDO and
NMREC.[62]
From the LIS and a UNICEF assessment of MRE in South Lebanon in August 2004,
it was found that 70 percent of the population had been exposed to MRE
interventions, could recall at least two safety messages, and had received at
least one MRE product.[63] The
UNICEF evaluation, however, called for MRE to be more focused on schools through
trained teachers. NMREC undertook a brief evaluation of school-based MRE
activities in 2004. A sample of schools was visited, and two classes were
randomly selected and their students invited to discuss MRE issues. NMREC
responses were 70 percent positive. An evaluation of the impact of MRE theater
plays was planned for 2005.[64]
In 2004, MRE activities were mostly community-based, targeting school
students in the south, Mount Lebanon and Batroun in the northern province.
Community members in villages at risk in the south and Mount Lebanon are reached
through community meetings. MRE messages are repeated in schools in organized
follow-up campaigns. NMREC includes a representative of the Ministry of
Education who facilitates MRE activities in schools such as visits by MRE
activists and training events.
In October 2004, all schools in mine-affected areas received a set of MRE
materials. These included posters, coloring books for all students aged eight to
12 years, an MRE pamphlet aimed at students aged 13 to 15 years, and a diary.
Each school also received a CD of an MRE song, a videotape of mines and MRE, and
a teacher training manual and MRE kit containing an explanation of messages,
suggested lesson plans, games and ideas for interactive MRE sessions. MRE
activists are available to help teachers in the implementation of MRE if
required.[65]
Between September and November 2004, 625 teachers were trained in MRE. The
course targeted 275 teachers in the northern provinces and Mount Lebanon through
US EUCOM funding, with additional funding provided by WRF. In South Lebanon,
Nabatieh and West Bekaa provinces, the course targeted 350 teachers and was
funded by NPA. These teachers then undertook MRE in their respective schools,
both at primary and secondary levels. Children aged eight to 17 years were the
main focus, with a variety of methodologies used, including song, participatory
discussions, classroom lectures and theatre. Children aged eight to 12 years
attended a play and learned MRE songs. Children aged 13 to 15 years received
classroom-based lectures, and certain schools conducted trips to locations where
mine clearance operations were taking place. Five schools organized painting
competitions on the theme of MRE, while in others students were encouraged to
write stories or poems on the subject of
MRE.[66]
In March 2005, NMREC visited a sample of these schools to evaluate the work
of the teachers and the impact of the training. Findings were positive: 85
percent of teachers had undertaken MRE and 90 percent of children surveyed knew
four out of five of the
messages.[67]
In September 2004, a ‘yellow book’ was released, targeted at
business people seeking information on the landmine problem in Lebanon, funded
by NPA. This book gives an overview of the history and location of the mine
problem, role of mine action bodies and mine action process, and achievements to
date. It was also distributed to
schools.[68] On 7 February 2005,
WRF launched a DVD on landmines as a new MRE
tool.[69]
Between January and May 2004, an MRE campaign was launched by the NDO MRE
Section and NMREC in Mount Lebanon province and Al-Batroun district, with the
support of NPA and WRF. This was followed by a refresher campaign from
September to December. The campaign targeted 200 affected villages. In 2005,
an evaluation was planned, with NPA funding support. IMI also planned to launch
an MRE campaign in the remaining areas of Mount Lebanon and the northern
province (except Al-Batroun district), with NMREC
collaboration.[70]
In 2004 through April 2005, MRE NGOs also continued to promote other events
in different regions, including summer camps with MRE themes and community-based
lectures. Summer camps were organized by the scout association; each included an
MRE session. MRE activists also organized MRE village meetings, in coordination
with other major actors and local leaders, targeting adult women and men.
Meetings usually take place in the evenings, in fields where people are working,
or during the weekend. When MRE first commenced in Lebanon, it was mainly
undertaken by the military. Since 2002, however, the majority of activities
have been undertaken by civilian activists and teachers. They receive a
five-day training and must have three years of community development experience.
All activists are volunteers and receive only a stipend to cover transport
costs.[71]
In January 2005, an MRE play targeting school children, aged eight to 12
years, began touring the country, with UNICEF, WRF and NPA funding. One hundred
performances had taken place by May 2005, reaching more than 2,000 teachers and
55,000 students.[72]
Funding and Assistance
In 2004, Lebanese government contributions and funds provided by the
international donor community totaled some $13.6 million. The government
provided in-kind and other support valued at approximately $4 million (Army
demining teams, $3 million; NDO, $1 million), representing about 29 percent of
funding in 2004.[73] According to
NDO and MACC SL, international donors provided an estimated $9.7
million.[74] NDO records the
following international donations received in
2004:[75]
Australia: $13,000 to OES demining project;
Czech Republic: $7,000 to “trees instead of mines” project;
European Commission: €521,846 ($649,072) for demining;
France: €110,000 ($136,818) for training in France;
Greece: €1,800,000 ($2,238,840) for IMI demining;
Japan: $139,300, consisting of $49,000 to “trees instead of
mines” project, and $90,300 for mine dog detection program;
Norway: NOK7,500,000 ($1,517,964), consisting of $1,112,776 for mine
clearance and $405,188 for victim assistance;
Republic of South Korea: $54,000 for two vehicles;
Switzerland: $119,975 for mine clearance;
UK: $142,857 to UNDP for capacity-building (2004/2005);
UNDP: $35,000 for capacity-building;
UNICEF: $32,735 for MRE;
UNIFIL: $561,600 for July 2003 to June 2004;
United Arab Emirates: $520,910 to OES demining project;
US: $3.1 million, consisting of $1,300,000 through the Department of Defense
for demining, MRE and NDO, $900,000 through the Department of State for
demining, and $900,000 through USAID for MRE and victim assistance
projects;
Voluntary Trust Fund (VTF): $100,000 to mine action coordination;
VTF UK: $250,000 for MACC SL coordination.
NDO also received C$10,000 ($7,682) from Abdu Al-Toussi, representing private
donations from Canadian-Lebanese citizens, to support military mine survivors,
and $40,000 from the Lebanese Canadian Bank for mine survivors. NDO also
received in-kind assistance, which was not
costed.[76]
Landmine Monitor identified six donor countries contributing a total of
$5,180,984 for mine action in Lebanon in 2004. This represents an estimated
decrease from $5.9 million reported by donors in
2003.[77] The donor countries in
2004 were: France, €81,500 ($101,370); Greece €900,000 ($1,119,420),
Japan, ¥15,900,000 ($147,018); Luxembourg, €25,000 ($31,095); Norway,
NOK10,500,000 ($1,557,887; Switzerland, CHF227,813 ($168,750); US,
$2,055,444.
Landmine Casualties
In 2004, 14 new landmine/UXO casualties were recorded, including two people
killed and 12 injured; all were civilians, one was female and three were under
18 years of age.[78] This
represents a significant decrease from the 26 new casualties reported in 2003.
The majority of casualties are from the south, mainly Marjeyoun and Nabatieh,
injured during recreational activities, while collecting scrap metal, or while
collecting edible plants. Casualties include a Lebanese Army deminer who
was injured during mine clearance
operations.[79]
Casualties continued to be reported in 2005, with three people killed and 11
injured by 8 June, including one girl and four boys under 18 years of age. Two
deminers were injured during mine clearance operations.
The Lebanon Mine Resource Center (LMRC) at the Faculty of Health Sciences of
the University of Balamand maintains a landmine casualty database in cooperation
with the NDO, providing both NDO and MACC SL with casualty data for their IMSMA
databases. In 2004, LMRC completed data collection in Chouf and Aley, the two
most mine-affected districts of Mount Lebanon province, under the supervision of
NDO and in collaboration with the National Victim Assistance Committee.
In June 2005, Lebanon stated that 3,975 landmine casualties (1,835 killed and
2,140 injured) had been identified since 1970, with 34 percent of casualties
aged between 31 and 40 years of
age.[80] Data from the LIS is
included in the NDO and MACC SL
databases.[81]
Survivor Assistance
For survivor assistance, the NDO’s End-State Strategy, launched in
December 2004, aims to achieve the successful reintegration of mine/UXO
survivors into society, “with appropriate support for individual cases
provided through a national system,” and to eventually hand over
assistance programs to national entities with responsibilities to address the
needs of survivors. Activities will be supplemented with advocacy within civil
society and activities for recognition of the rights of disabled people within
the framework of the proposed Comprehensive and Integral International
Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with
Disabilities. NDO has identified providing assistance to mine/UXO survivors
through direct (coordination) and indirect (lobbying and representation) support
as a national mine action
priority.[82]
The National Mine Victim Assistance Committee (NMVAC) coordinates victim
assistance activities in
Lebanon.[83] NDO workplans for 2004
and 2005 include the objectives of assisting survivors in accessing medical,
social, psychological and economic services, continuing income generating
programs, facilitating loans for survivors, capacity-building of NGOs and
survivors, and assisting with the participation of survivors in national and
international events and
activities.[84]
In the south, the existing first aid structure is used for the evacuation of
landmine casualties, including ambulances and first aid provided by the Lebanese
Red Cross, Islamic Health Council and Al-Rissala First Aid Service, to the
nearest emergency room. Only one of five hospitals in the south has the
facilities to provide the necessary assistance. The government normally pays
for initial hospital care, while funding for long-term hospital care is not
available. Most Lebanese citizens have access to services and are covered by
State social insurance.[85]
The Ministry of Health, Ministry of Social Affairs and NGOs provide
rehabilitation services through 38 physical rehabilitation
centers.[86] The Ministry of
Health, or Council of the South, covers the cost of prosthetics, physiotherapy
and rehabilitation. NGOs provide the services and are later reimbursed for the
costs. There is no coordination between the Ministry of Health and the Council
of the South; however, NDO is creating a network between all the relevant
stakeholders to avoid overlap.[87]
Support to landmine survivors and other persons with disabilities is also
provided through the Ministry of Social Affairs, which issues a disability card
giving access to free services, literacy programs and welfare. However,
services are limited due to a lack of funding. The Ministry of Labor runs the
National Employment Institute, which provides vocational training, through NGOs,
to all those who need it including disabled people. However, the capacity is
limited and centers are usually in urban areas. In 2004, the National
Employment Institute assisted approximately 600 people with
disability.[88]
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), in
partnership with the Sidon Orphan Welfare Society and Lebanon College for
Disabled, supported centers in Beit Shabab and Sidon with the supply of
materials and components, technical support and financial assistance to cover
the cost of services for Palestinian refugees at the Sidon center. Following a
monitoring visit in mid-2004, ICRC support to the Beit Shabab center ceased at
the end 2004. In 2004, the centers assisted more than 150 people, and produced
84 prostheses and 64 orthoses; eight prostheses were for landmine
survivors.[89]
Norwegian People’s Aid continues its support to survivor assistance
programs, in cooperation with NDO, working through eight partners; all are
members of NMVAC. NPA’s activities include emergency and first aid,
prosthetic and orthopedic workshops, physical therapy and rehabilitation,
socioeconomic reintegration and psychosocial support, in the south. In 2004,
NPA equipped 10 ambulances with emergency and trauma kits, supported the
adaptation of four private homes and two public places to improve accessibility
for disabled persons, supported 29 survivors with micro-credit loans, and
supplied mobility devices to landmine survivors, including 44 artificial limbs,
two artificial eyes, 18 hearing aids, 42 wheelchairs, 62 water mattresses, 66
walkers, 10 toilet chairs, 188 crutches, and 60 tripods and walking sticks. NPA
is also enhancing the capacity of its partners with training, equipment and
supplies, and support for the development of a code of conduct and workplan for
NMVAC. NPA also supported the survey on landmine casualties, a study on the
socioeconomic impact of income generating projects, and a football team of
landmine survivors affiliated to the Lebanese Welfare Association for the
Handicapped (LWAH).[90]
LWAH provides hospitalization and medical follow-up, physical rehabilitation,
psychosocial support, micro-credit schemes, and advocacy and awareness raising
for landmine survivors and their families in South Lebanon. The socioeconomic
reintegration program started in February 2004. LWAH also supports the Mine
Survivors Club, which focuses on peer support visits and meetings, psychosocial
support to survivors and their families, advocacy for the rights of persons with
disabilities, social and recreational activities, sports, employment and income
generating projects. About 100 mine survivors benefited from home visits. The
club compiled a detailed needs assessment file for each survivor, and offered a
small package of basic nutritional items to each household visited. LWAH also
runs the Nabih Berri Rehabilitation Center in Nabatieh, which provides physical
rehabilitation, mobility devices, speech and hearing therapy, occupational
therapy and vocational training. In 2004, LWAH provided 23,072 medical, social
and rehabilitation services, and assisted 120 landmine survivors. The
rehabilitation center produced 47 prostheses and six orthoses, and provided 12
wheelchairs, 47 crutches, five water mattresses, eight walkers and 25 silicone
sheets. LWAH also provided six micro-credit loans to landmine survivors: two
were for beekeeping/honey production; one for a grocery store; one for milk
production; one for a kiosk; one for egg production. Activities are limited by
a lack of funding. LWAH is partially funded by the Ministry of Health, Ministry
of Social Affairs, NPA, WRF and
UNICEF.[91]
The US-based World Rehabilitation Fund implements activities in collaboration
with NDO and partner organizations for the socioeconomic reintegration of mine
survivors. WRF funds the Jezzine Landmine Survivor Cooperative, which works on
empowering landmine survivors in the District of Jezzine through income
generation activities. The cooperative supports the production of honey, eggs
and medicinal herbs. As of December 2004, more than 1,000 people, including 131
direct beneficiaries (79 mine survivors and 52 families of those killed) and
their dependents have benefited from the project. The cooperative has its own
retail shop and produce is sold with a special identifying label. The
beekeeping project has 70 beneficiaries, 54 are working in the poultry program,
and seven are working in herb production. The cooperative also opened an
internet café in 2004 for computer training, job creation and
entertainment. The WRF project in Jezzine is supported by USAID and Leahy War
Victims Fund.[92]
Al-Jarha Association for the War Wounded and Disabled in Lebanon works with
survivors and other people with disabilities to promote their reintegration
through vocational training, equipment and loans. Al-Jarha operates an
ambulance and referral service, and has centers in Al-Abbas, Beit El-Jareeh, and
in South Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley that provide vocational training,
education scholarships for people with disabilities and awareness raising on
disability issues. Those living in rural areas receive training in beekeeping
or fishing, and those living in urban centers received training in languages,
accounting, secretarial and computer skills. Al-Jarha receives support from
NPA.[93]
Vision Association for Development, Rehabilitation and Care provides referral
services for medical care, physical rehabilitation, vocational training,
micro-credit schemes including interest-free loans, job placement and
accessibility projects. In 2004, 50 people benefited from the activities,
including 30 mine survivors. Vision Association provided 30 prostheses, 20
wheelchairs and 100 crutches, made four schools accessible for people with
disabilities, and provided one scholarship for a survivor to study at the Omar
El Mukhtar Institution.[94]
The National Rehabilitation and Development Center (NRDC) in West Mount
Lebanon, provides emergency medical care, physical rehabilitation, socioeconomic
reintegration, awareness raising and advocacy, with support from NPA, Balamand
University and the Ministry of Health. In 2004, 21 landmine survivors were
assisted free of charge.[95]
Other organizations assisting persons with disabilities in Lebanon with
medical care, physical rehabilitation and socioeconomic reintegration include
the Philanthropic Association for the Disabled Care in Nabatieh district in the
south, and Handicap
International.[96]
Two mine survivors from Lebanon participated in the Raising the Voices
training program in Geneva in June 2004, the Amman Landmine Survivors Network
(LSN) workshop in September 2004, the Cairo Landmine Monitor launch in November
2004, and the First Review Conference and Survivors Summit in Nairobi in
November-December 2004. Another landmine survivor participated in the LSN
training session in Amman in March 2005, on human rights, advocacy and the
Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on Protection and Promotion
of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities. Landmine survivors also
participated in the 2004 Beirut marathon together with NDO staff and
NGOs.[97]
Disability Policy and Practice
Lebanon has legislation to protect the rights of persons with disabilities;
however, the law is reportedly not yet
effective.[98]
In 2004, the Arab Organization of Disabled People (AODP) organized a series
of training sessions on advocacy and leadership for disabled persons in Lebanon,
Syria, Jordan, Tunisia and Bahrain. AODP, in collaboration with the Arab
League, convened two regional expert meetings on the proposed international
convention on disability in Cairo and Beirut, which resulted in the adoption of
an Arab draft of the
convention.[99]
[1] Lebanon was represented by its
Ambassador in Senegal, Michel Haddad (who also attended the Ottawa signing
conference in 1997), and Lt. Col. Khaled El-Alieh, head of the Victim Assistance
Section of the National Demining Office.
[2] Amb. Haddad cited the
“failure of the Government of Israel to submit all the maps showing the
deployment of landmines,” and the “continued occupation by Israel of
parts of Southern Lebanon.” He also stated, “Israel, which
continues to produce and use landmines, has not instituted a national demining
program, and willingly makes statements through its officials that demining is
no longer Israel’s priority. In addition, Israel refuses to adhere to the
Ottawa Convention in order to escape its obligations towards peace and human
rights.” Statement of Amb. Michel Haddad, Nairobi Summit on a Mine Free
World (First Review Conference), Nairobi, 3 December 2004
[3] Statement of Amb. Michel
Haddad, First Review Conference, Nairobi, 3 December 2004.
[4] Statement of Amb. Michel
Haddad, First Review Conference, Nairobi, 3 December 2004.
[5] Lebanese Broadcasting
Corporation, 8:40 p.m., 30 April 2005.
[6] Landmine Monitor interview with
Hezbollah spokesperson, 29 December 2004. Hezbollah representatives have told
Landmine Monitor that Hezbollah uses improvised explosive devices, but does not
stockpile antipersonnel landmines.
[7] UNDP, “The Completion
Initiative Concept Paper and National Plans,” 15 June 2005, p. 57.
[8] UNDP, “The Completion
Initiative Concept Paper and National Plans,” 15 June 2005, p. 57.
[9] See Landmine Monitor
Report 2004, p. 1054.
[10] UN, “Country profile:
Lebanon,” www.mineaction.org,
accessed 28 July 2005; see also Landmine Monitor Report 2004, pp.
1054-1055.
[11] NDO, Lebanon Mine Action
Program, “Annual Report 2004,” p. 15; “Integrated Work Plan
for Mine Action 2005,” p. 12.
[12] MACC SL, “Monthly
report, March 2005,” p. 4; MACC SL, “Quarterly report, April to June
2005,” p. 2.
[13] See Landmine Monitor
Report 2004, p. 1055.
[14] NDO, Lebanon Mine Action
Program, “Annual Report 2004,” p. 2.
[15] Interview with Col. Haidar
Faroukh, Head of Operations Section, NDO, Beirut, 2 May 2005.
[16] MACC SL, “Quarterly
report, October to December 2004,” p. 4.
[17] Interview with Col. Haidar
Faroukh, Head of Operations Section, Lt. Col. Khaled El-Alieh, Victim Assistance
Section Head, and Col. Talouzian, Assistant Director, NDO, Beirut, 3 February
2005.
[18] UN, “Country profile:
Lebanon,” www.mineaction.org,
accessed 28 July 2005.
[19] UNDP, “The Completion
Initiative Concept Paper and National Plans,” 15 June 2005, p. 58.
[20] UNDP, “The Completion
Initiative Concept Paper and National Plans,” 15 June 2005, p. 57.
[21] Interview with Richard
Sayegh and Col. Marwan Sakr, IT Section, NDO, Beirut, 7 January 2005; interview
with Beat Schoch, IMSMA Technical Advisor, NDO, Beirut, 26 February 2005. See
also Landmine Monitor Report 2004, p. 1055.
[22] Interview with Col. Haidar
Faroukh, NDO, Beirut, 2 May 2005.
[23] NDO, Lebanon Mine Action
Program, “Annual Report 2004,” p. 14.
[24] Interview with Abdullah
Noureddine, Islamic Health Council, and Imad Khoshman, Al Jarha, Dr.
Nasser Bulteif, Al Ru'ya, NMREC, NDO, Beirut, 27 June 2005.
[25] NDO, “End-State
Strategy (ESS) for Mine Action in Lebanon, Demining End-State Condition,”
2004, p. 9.
[26] UNDP, “The Completion
Initiative Concept Paper and National Plans,” 15 June 2005, p. 58.
[27] NDO, Lebanon Mine Action
Program, “Annual Report 2004,” p. 13; NDO, “Integrated Work
Plan for Mine Action 2005,” p. 11.
[28] NDO, “Integrated Work
Plan for Mine Action 2005,” p. 11.
[29] Interview with Gen. Salim
Raad, NDO, Beirut, 10 November 2004.
[30] See Landmine Monitor
Report 2004, p. 1055.
[31] NDO, Lebanon Mine Action
Program, “Annual Report 2004,” p. 15.
[32] NDO, Lebanon Mine Action
Program, “Annual Report 2004,” p. 15.
[33] Interview with Lt. Col.
Khaled El-Alieh, Victim Assistance Section Head, NDO, Geneva, 14 June 2005.
[34] MACC SL, “Quarterly
report, April to June 2005,” pp. 3-4.
[35] Interview with Mr. Dbouk,
UNDP Mine Action Program Assistant, NDO, Beirut, 11 February 2005.
[36] MACC SL, “Monthly
report, March 2005,” p. 4.
[37] UNDP, “The Completion
Initiative Concept Paper and National Plans,” 15 June 2005, p. 58; NDO,
“End-State Strategy (ESS) for Mine Action in Lebanon, Demining End-State
Condition,” 2004, pp. 1, 9.
[38] NDO, “Integrated Work
Plan for Mine Action 2005,” Annex A.
[39] Information obtained from
Lt. Col. Wassim Rizk, Operations Section, NDO, Beirut, 2 May 2005; see also NDO,
Lebanon Mine Action Program, “Annual Report 2004,” Annex B, pp.
1-2.
[40] MACC SL, “Quarterly
Report, January to March 2005,” pp. 3-7.
[41] Information obtained from
Lt. Col. Wassim Rizk, NDO, Beirut, 2 May 2005.
[42] NDO, Lebanon Mine Action
Program, “Annual Report 2004,” Annex B.
[43] MACC SL, “Quarterly
Report, July to September 2004,” p. 7.
[44] NDO, Lebanon Mine Action
Program, “Annual Report 2004,” Annex B; MACC SL, “Quarterly
Report, January to March 2005,” p. 5.
[45] NDO, Lebanon Mine Action
Program, “Annual Report 2004,” Annex B.
[46] Information obtained from
Lt. Col. Wassim Rizk, NDO, Beirut, 2 May 2005. Data reported to Landmine Monitor
by some operators differs from NDO data.
[47] NDO, Annual Report 2004,
“Lebanon Mine Action Program,” Annex B.
[48] MACC SL, “Quarterly
Report, April to June 2004,” p. 3
[49] MACC SL, “Quarterly
Report, October to December 2004,” p. 4.
[50] MACC SL, “Monthly
report, July 2005,” p. 3.
[51] MACC SL, “Quarterly
report, April to June 2005,” p. 10.
[52] MACC SL, “Quarterly
report, April to June 2005,” p. 6.
[53] MACC SL, “Quarterly
Report, April to June 2004,” p. 7; MACC SL, “Quarterly Report, July
to September 2004,” p. 7.
[54] Email from Matt Willson,
Project Coordinator for Middle East, MAG, 28 July 2005.
[55] NDO, Lebanon Mine Action
Program, “Annual Report 2004,” Annex B; email from Tim Carstairs,
Director of Policy, MAG, 26 September 2005.
[56] MACC SL, “Quarterly
report, April to June 2005,” p. 4.
[57] Email from Matt Willson,
MAG, 28 July 2005.
[58] NDO, Lebanon Mine Action
Program, “Annual Report 2004,” Annex B; see also Landmine Monitor
Report 2004, p. 1058.
[59] MACC SL, “Quarterly
Report, July to September 2004,” p. 6
[60] Interview with Col. Haidar
Faroukh, NDO, Beirut, 14 June 2005.
[61] NDO, Annual Report 2004,
“Lebanon Mine Action Program,” p. 18 and Annex B; MACC SL,
“Quarterly report, April to June 2005,” p. 5.
[62] NDO, Annual Report 2004,
“Lebanon Mine Action Program,” p. 18.
[63] NMREC meeting, NDO, Beirut,
7 April 2005.
[64] Email from Habbouba Aoun,
Lebanon Mine Resource Center, Beirut, 27 September 2004.
[65] Information provided by
Habbouba Aoun, Lebanon Mine Resource Center, Beirut, 14 June 2005.
[66] NDO, Lebanon Mine Action
Program, “Annual Report 2004,” p. 18.
[67] Information provided by
Habbouba Aoun, Lebanon Mine Resource Center, Beirut, 14 June 2005.
[68] NDO, Lebanon Mine Action
Program, “Annual Report 2004,” p. 18.
[69] Email from Habbouba Aoun,
Lebanon Mine Resource Center, Beirut, 27 September 2004.
[70] NDO, Lebanon Mine Action
Program, “Annual Report 2004,” p. 18.
[71] Information provided by
Habbouba Aoun, Lebanon Mine Resource Center, Beirut, 14 June 2005.
[72] Information provided by
Habbouba Aoun, Lebanon Mine Resource Center, Beirut, 14 June 2005.
[73] NDO, Lebanon Mine Action
Program, “Annual Report 2004,” p. 9.
[74] NDO, Lebanon Mine Action
Program, “Annual Report 2004,” Annex E; MACC SL, “Quarterly
Report, April to June 2005,” p. 9. This amount does not include in-kind
assistance for which a monetary equivalent has not been provided.
[75] NDO, Annual Report 2004,
“Lebanon Mine Action Program,” Annex E; MACC SL, Quarterly Report,
April to June 2005, p. 9. Average exchange rates for 2004 used throughout this
report: US$1 = NOK6.7399; €1=US$1.2438; US$1=CN$1.3017. US Federal
Reserve, "List of Exchange Rates (Annual)," 3 January 2005.
[76] NDO, Annual Report 2004,
“Lebanon Mine Action Program,” Annex E. These amounts are included
in the total of $9.7 million funding by international donors.
[77]Landmine Monitor
Report, p. 1056.
[78] Unless otherwise stated,
information on landmine casualties is taken from the LMRC database as of June
2005; see also Landmine Monitor Report 2004, p. 1061.
[79] Interview with Col. Haidar
Faroukh, NDO, Beirut, 14 June 2005.
[80] Presentation by Lt. Col.
Khaled El-Alieh, Head of Mine Victim Assistance Section, NDO, Standing Committee
on Victim Assistance and Socio-Economic Reintegration, Geneva, 17 June 2005.
[81] For more information see
“Landmine Impact Survey - Lebanon,” Survey Action Center (SAC),
Washington DC, February 2005, pp. 20, 23-24. The LIS was completed in August
2003.
[82] NDO, “End-State
Strategy (ESS) for Mine Action in Lebanon,” Beirut, December 2004, p. 7,
www.ndo-lb.org/policies/ESS.pdf.
[83] For more information, see
Landmine Monitor Report 2004, p. 1062.
[84] NDO, “Integrated Work
Plan for Mine Action in Lebanon in 2004,” Annex C, www.ndo-lb.org/policies/IWP2004.pdf;
NDO, “Integrated Work Plan for Mine Action in Lebanon in 2005,”
Annex C.
[85] For more information, see
Landmine Monitor Report 2004, p. 1062; see also “Landmine Impact
Survey - Lebanon,” SAC, Washington, February 2005, pp. 35-36.
[86] Statement of Amb. Michel
Haddad, First Review Conference, Nairobi, 3 December 2005.
[87] Email to Landmine Monitor
(HI) from Lt. Col. Khaled El-Alieh NDO, and Chairman, NMVAC, 27 July 2005;
for more information, see Landmine Monitor Report 2004, p. 1062.
[88] Email to Landmine Monitor
(HI) from Lt. Col. Khaled El-Alieh, NDO, and Chairman, NMVAC, 27 July
2005.
[89] ICRC Physical
Rehabilitation Program, “Annual Report 2004,” Geneva, July 2005, p.
39.
[90] Email to Landmine Monitor
(HI) from Anissa Sabehayoun and Wafaa Yassir, NPA Lebanon, 13 June 2005; see
also Standing Tall Australia and Mines Action Canada, “101 Great Ideas for
the Socio-Economic Reintegration of Mine Survivors,” June 2005, p. 56.
NPA’s implementing partners include Lebanese Welfare Association for the
Handicapped, Welfare Association for the Handicapped in Nabatiyah, Al-Jarha
Welfare Association for the War Wounded and Disabled in Lebanon, Islamic Health
Council, National Rehabilitation and Development , Philanthropic Association for
Disabled Care, Vision Association for Development, Rehabilitation and Care, and
LMRC.
[91] Response to Landmine Monitor
questionnaire from Boutros Hobeika, Public Relations Officer and Mine Action
Officer, LWAH, Beirut, 23 July 2005; see also “101 Great Ideas for the
Socio-Economic Reintegration of Mine Survivors,” June 2005, p. 55;
“Landmine Impact Survey - Lebanon,” SAC, Washington DC, February
2005, p. 37.
[92] Presentation by Habbouba
Aoun, LMRC, in collaboration with WRF, to the Workshop on Advancing Landmine
Victim Assistance in Africa, Nairobi, Kenya, 31 May - 2 June 2005; see also
“101 Great Ideas for the Socio-Economic Reintegration of Mine
Survivors,” June 2005, p. 57.
[93] “101 Great Ideas for
the Socio-Economic Reintegration of Mine Survivors,” June 2005, p. 54; see
also “Landmine Impact Survey - Lebanon,” SAC, Washington, February
2005, p. 35.
[94] Response to Landmine Monitor
Questionnaire from Dr. Nasser Abou Ltaif, Head, Vision Association, Beirut, 30
July 2005.
[95] Response to Landmine Monitor
Questionnaire from Khaled al-Mohtar, Manager, NRDC, Beirut, 25 July 2005.
[96] “Landmine Impact
Survey - Lebanon,” SAC, Washington DC, February 2005, p. 39; see also
Handicap International, www.handicap-international.org.uk/page_189.html.
[97] Presentation by Lt. Col.
Khaled El-Alieh, NDO, Standing Committee on Victim Assistance and Socio-Economic
Reintegration, Geneva, 17 June 2005.
[98] For more information, see
Landmine Monitor Report 2004, p. 1064; see also US Department of State,
“Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2004: Lebanon,”
Washington, 28 February 2005.
[99] Disabled People’s
International, “Convention - Yes! Disability Convention News,” Vol.
1 N° 6, April 2004, www.dpi.org/en/resources/publications/documents/cyapr04.doc;
“ESCWA Launches Specialized Website on Meeting on Information and
Communication Technology for Persons with Disability,” United Nations
Information Service, Beirut, 25 May 2004, www.worldenable.net/reasonablea/news20040525.htm.