Key developments since May 2005: For the
first time, Lebanon voted in favor of the annual pro-Mine Ban Treaty UN General
Assembly resolution in the First Committee; it was absent from the final vote.
An internal review process that could lead to accession was underway. Lebanon
was considering submission of a voluntary Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 transparency
report. The ICBL undertook a special advocacy mission to Lebanon in June 2006.
Two square kilometers of mine-affected land was cleared in 2005, and a further
3.9 square kilometers of mined and mine-suspected land was released through
survey. The National Demining Office drafted a mine action policy giving itself
responsibility for management of the mine action program and involving civilian
institutions in priority-setting. A nationwide technical survey started in
2005; 9.8 square kilometers of suspected area had been surveyed by May 2006,
resulting in the cancellation of 7.2 square kilometers as not contaminated.
Mine risk education was delayed by the security situation, but resumed in late
2005. There were 22 new casualties in 2005, a significant increase from 2004.
Note from the Editor: As Landmine Monitor Report 2006 went to
print, the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon was erupting.
Reliable information about any possible use of antipersonnel mines was not yet
available, and the impact of the conflict on the landmine and explosive remnants
of war situation in the country, as well as on Lebanon's mine ban policy, was
not yet known.
Mine Ban Policy
The Republic of Lebanon has not acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty. Its
long-held position has been that it is unable to join the treaty due to the
continuing conflict with Israel.[1]However, there have been some important positive developments.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in late 2005 initiated a process with the
Lebanese Army that is expected to lead to a recommendation to the government
that Lebanon accede to the Mine Ban Treaty. The Foreign Ministry has been
consulting with the National Demining Office (NDO) and the Ministry of Defense
regarding the ramifications of and procedures for accession.
[2]
In June 2006, the ICBL’s Diplomatic Advisor, retired Ambassador Satnam
Jit Singh, undertook a special advocacy mission to Lebanon. He met with Prime
Minister Fouad Siniora, Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh, Chief of the Armed
Forces General Michel Sleiman, representatives of the NDO and the Army’s
Engineering Regiment, and other political and social leaders. There was
widespread coverage of the visit by television, radio and print media.
The prime minister and army chief indicated that they were not averse to
accession to the Mine Ban Treaty. The foreign minister said that Lebanon was
giving serious consideration to accession, that interministerial consultations
were underway, and it was only a matter of a time until Lebanon accedes to the
treaty. All officials pointed to Israel’s position on landmines as being
an obstacle.[3]
On 28 October 2005, Lebanon for the first time voted in favor of the annual
draft resolution in the UN General Assembly First Committee calling for
universalization and full implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty. It was not
present to vote on the final version, UNGA Resolution 60/80, on 8 December
2005.[4]
In its 2005 annual report, the NDO reported that it had completed position
papers recommending the submission of a voluntary Mine Ban Treaty Article 7
transparency report, as well as accession to the Convention on Conventional
Weapons (CCW) and its Amended Protocol II on
landmines.[5]
The UN Mine Action Coordination Center for South Lebanon (MACC SL) stated in
its 2005 annual report that Lebanon was studying the possibility of acceding to
the Mine Ban Treaty with a real willingness to do
so.[6]
Lebanon sent delegations to the intersessional Standing Committee meetings in
Geneva in June 2005 and May 2006. However, Lebanon did not attend as an
observer the Sixth Meeting of States Parties in Zagreb, Croatia in
November-December 2005.[7]
The Lebanon Mine Resource Center and Mines Action Canada organized a workshop
on engaging youth in mine action in Lebanon from 16 to 19 January 2006, attended
by participants from the region.[8]
Production, Transfer, Stockpiling and Use
In November 2004, Lebanon confirmed that it “has never produced or
exported antipersonnel mines.”[9]The Lebanese Army stockpiles an unknown number of antipersonnel mines. In
2005, there were no confirmed reports of use of antipersonnel mines by any party
in Lebanon. The MACC SL said in its 2005 annual report that there had been no
use of antipersonnel mines in Lebanon since the Israeli
withdrawal.[10]
Landmine and UXO Problem
From the beginning of the civil war in 1975 until the end of Israeli
occupation in 2000, mines and explosive ordnance were used extensively in
Lebanon. Consequently, antipersonnel mines, antivehicle mines and unexploded
ordnance (UXO), including cluster bomblets, can be found throughout the country.
South Lebanon (the territory formerly occupied by the Israeli forces) and
Nabatieh provinces are the most affected, followed by Mount
Lebanon.[11]As of 2006,
Lebanon’s border with Israel continued 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.[12]
Although the initial extent of mine/UXO contamination is difficult to
determine, approximately 150 square kilometers of land have been affected by
mines and UXO since 1975. As of December 2005, 33.6 square kilometers of land
had been returned to the population, and Lebanon estimated that over 70 percent
of the country’s contaminated land remained to be cleared; this includes a
highly contaminated area in the immediate area of the UN-delineated Blue Line
along the Lebanese border with
Israel.[13]In this area of South
Lebanon, while 5 square kilometers were cleared in 2003-2004, around 2.1 square
kilometers of land remained contaminated by an estimated 370,000 landmines and
booby-traps, endangering 250,000 people in 151
communities.[14]Mines and UXO also
continue to contaminate certain areas of shoreline in Beirut, Tabarja, Tripoli
and South Lebanon.[15]
The national Landmine Impact Survey (LIS), which was completed in 2003,
estimated that 22 out of 24 districts, covering a total area of 137 square
kilometers, were affected to some degree by mines and/or UXO. Contamination
continues to impede socioeconomic development. In the south, mines are an
obstacle to the execution of a major drinking and irrigation water pipeline
project and contaminate agricultural land, thereby hindering the return of
displaced people.[16]The LIS
claimed that more than 30 percent of the country’s population of 3.7
million was affected by mines and/or UXO.
[17]
Mine Action Program
National Mine Action Authority: The Minister of Defense is
responsible for mine action in Lebanon, and the Council for Development and
Reconstruction acts as the governmental coordinating agency for development
projects, including mine
action.[18]
Mine Action Centers: The National Demining Office, a part of the
Lebanese Armed Forces, is responsible for implementing the End-State Strategy
for Mine Action in Lebanon and for coordinating, managing and implementing all
mine action. A special advisor for mine action advises the Minister of Defense.
Two committees, for mine risk education and survivor assistance, have been
established within the NDO to coordinate with other
ministries.[19]The NDO experienced
important changes in management with the appointment of a new head of operations
in 2005, and a new director in February 2006; mine risk education and victim
assistance became the responsibility of one individual rather than
two.[20]
In 2005 and 2006, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) continued to support
the institutional development of the NDO, especially its management capacity,
through a chief technical advisor and a national mine action program
officer.[21]NDO and MACC SL use
version 3 of the Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA), which is
maintained at the 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. The UNIFIL Demining Coordination Cell has a read-only IMSMA (version
3) terminal.[22]
Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation (VVAF) reported that in 2005 it
provided support to enhance the NDO’s ability to use LIS data in planning
and prioritization. The tool used, Operations Explorer (OpEx), is compatible
with IMSMA and fills the operational gap in planning and information retrieval
requirements.[23]
Although the demining project in South Lebanon run by the United Arab
Emirates-funded Operation Emirates Solidarity (OES) closed in June 2004, MACC SL
continued to provide planning, coordination and quality assurance support to
mine action operations in 2005 and 2006 in South Lebanon, including
UNIFIL’s area of operation.[24]MACC SL is a joint operation of the UN and the Lebanese Armed Forces
managed by the UN Mine Action Service
(UNMAS).[25]
The International Support Group (ISG) for mine action in Lebanon, which
facilitated coordination and information sharing among national and
international partners in mine action, has not met since December 2003.
Following the cancellation of the ISG meeting scheduled for February 2005, the
NDO held a “working level update” in December 2005 to inform and
update ISG members.[26]
In 2005, the UNIFIL Demining Coordination Cell coordinated and managed
operations undertaken by the Ukrainian battalion’s mine clearance platoon
in support of the UNIFIL mission; the mission’s operational area was
defined as the area south of the Litani river, totaling about 700 square
kilometers.[27]In May 2005, the UN
decided to withdraw all Ukrainian troops from UNIFIL, and they departed at the
end of March 2006. The UN Department for Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) and
UNMAS conducted an assessment mission to Lebanon in November 2005 to review
suitable options for their replacement, including for
demining.[28]
At the end of 2005, DPKO decided to deploy a Chinese military contingent. A
DPKO pre-deployment visit to China in January 2006 concluded that the Chinese
demining battalion would need extensive training and improved equipment in order
to comply with International Mine Action Standards (IMAS). In February 2006,
Chinese media reported that the Chinese battalion was comprised of a
mine-clearance company (with two police dogs to help clearance, an engineering
company, a logistics company, an in-field hospital and road construction
personnel).[29]On 1 April 2006,
the demining battalion was deployed to Lebanon, and, as of May 2006, was
undergoing training as part of the accreditation process for
demining.[30]
National mine action legislation, policy and standards: There is no
national mine action legislation in place in Lebanon. However, during 2005, the
NDO initiated a medium-term project to institutionalize its structure, through
formalizing the involvement of a broader representation of Lebanese national and
local institutions in planning and coordination of mine action, thereby allowing
greater civilian oversight. The NDO mandate was to be strengthened in order to
become fully responsible for national management of the mine action program.
Institutionalization aims to give “mine action in Lebanon the robust
structure and documentation set necessary to fulfill mine action requirements in
a transparent and cost-effective
manner.”[31]
Within this framework, a draft National Mine Action Policy for Lebanon was
developed by the NDO in 2005 in order to show transparency in priority setting
for mine action, as well as to ensure that priorities are set by a broader
section of Lebanese government institutions. The policy planned to establish
formal coordination between the ministries of defense, education, social
affairs, public health and labor. The policy will also include consultation
with local authorities to ensure that local mine clearance priorities are
incorporated into national programs. Also, “post-demining surveys”
would be incorporated into the policy to determine if priority setting is
efficient and matches the reality on the
ground.[32]
The NDO structure has lacked the capacity to coordinate and plan demining
operations.[33]To remedy this, the
draft policy envisaged the creation of an operations office as a new capacity
within the NDO to ensure that all mine action operations undertaken by the NDO,
MACC SL and the Army Engineering Regiment are planned and coordinated by the
NDO. An NDO charter, defining the roles and responsibilities of all NDO
activities and personnel, was also expected to be drafted by the end of
2006.[34]
During 2005, the NDO introduced monitoring and quality assurance, and was
tasked by the operations office to conduct all quality assurance functions
involving accreditation, licensing and monitoring of the clearance
organizations.[35]
The draft National Mine Action Policy was approved by the NDO in 2005; as of
May 2006, the policy was under review by the office of the prime
minister.[36]
No amendments were made to the national technical and standards guidelines,
since they were amended in 2004, ostensibly to be in full compliance with IMAS.
In 2005, the NDO had planned to develop national standards for mine risk
education, victim assistance and mine action information management, but their
completion was rescheduled for 2006.[37]As of May 2006, those standards were being developed with technical input
from the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD).
Finalization of the standards was not expected before the end of
2006.[38]
Strategic Planning and Progress
Following an agreement between the Ministry of Defense and UNDP in 2003,
Lebanon launched a Mine Action Strategic Review project. This resulted in the
development of an End-State Strategy for Mine Action in Lebanon in 2004.
Subsequently, the NDO produced annual reports (for the years 2003, 2004 and
2005) as well as annual integrated workplans (for the years 2005 and 2006). The
strategic review permitted the creation by the NDO of a new planning system for
mine action incorporating the End-State Strategy and based on LIS data, the
Long-Term Plan 2005-2009, annual integrated workplans and annual
reports.[39]
The End-State Strategy was an attempt to integrate mine action with the
country’s overall development strategy. It contained 12 guidelines for
implementation. The concept was 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 sought 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
substantial threat to life and limb or which hinder socioeconomic development
are demined to a level that is As Low As Reasonably Acceptable (ALARA),
according to national laws and standards, and international mine action
standards.” It also identifies the need for an effective explosive
ordnance disposal (EOD) capacity to map cleared or marked dangerous areas, and
for coordination between mine/UXO awareness and
demining.[40]
The Long-Term Plan 2005-2009, based on the End-State Strategy, set out plans
to remove the impact of mines and UXO in all high and medium priority areas by
late 2009 through survey, clearance, area reduction, marking and fencing. The
plan has a vision of a Lebanon “free from the impact of landmines and
explosive remnants of war.”[41]Future long-term plans will be developed with the aim of achieving this
vision within 10-15 years.[42]
In 2005, Lebanon submitted its plan as part of the UNDP Completion
Initiative; completion was defined as the elimination of high- and medium-risk
minefields during the next three to five years and the development of a residual
capacity to respond to the remaining contamination. The completion plan was due
to be updated in early 2006 with new cost estimates based on the result of the
technical survey. It was expected that the cost for completion would decrease
by 20 to 30 percent because of the reduction of suspected areas following the
technical survey.[43]Revision of
the plan had not started as of May
2006.[44]
Lebanon’s Long-Term Plan 2005-2009 foresaw the elimination of the
impact of landmines and ERW in all high- and medium-impacted areas by 2009,
applying the “as low as reasonably acceptable”
principle.[45]However, the
National Plan for Completion has the objective for 2005-2009 of clearance of all
high and medium priority areas by late 2010, while the specific objective for
mine clearance is “completely eliminating the threat to all high and
medium impact communities by the end of 2010 using ALARA principles and
international and national
standards.”[46]It is
therefore unclear whether Lebanon plans full clearance of all high and medium
areas or only removal of what is considered a threat.
In 2005 and 2006, mine action priorities in Lebanon were formulated by the
Lebanese Armed Forces Command and the Minister of Defense with the advice of the
NDO director. Other government departments were said to be consulted in the
decision-making. Priorities were then implemented and monitored by the NDO
through annual mine action
goals.[47]
Objectives stated in the 2005 Integrated Work Plan (IWP) included:
supervision, coordination and quality assurance of clearance tasks implemented
by demining operators such as the Army Engineering Regiment, NGOs and commercial
companies; and technical survey to further identify the mine problem and as a
process of area reduction of suspected areas identified through the
LIS.[48]According to the NDO, in
2005, clearance rates of the Army Engineering Regiment were hampered by the
security situation in Lebanon and national elections. However, a large
area―5.9 square kilometers―was returned to the civilian population
in 2005 as a result of clearance and technical survey by the Engineering
Regiment, UNIFIL and Mines Advisory
Group.[49]
Efforts to build an EOD capacity continued as planned but with no tangible
changes due to the security situation in 2005; RONCO Consulting Corporation
confirmed that the US Department of State would continue to support this project
until the end of 2008.[50]
The main objectives of the Integrated Work Plan for 2006 included quality
management of all tasks implemented by commercial companies and NGOs, building
of national capacity in all areas of mine action, and clearance and verification
of minefields in accordance with national priorities and in areas needed for
specific development projects (the roads from Marjeyoum to Nabatieh, from Tyre
to Nakoura Road as well as the dam in Ebi-Essaqi). In 2006, the NDO also
planned to continue the technical survey initiated in 2005. Marking of all
areas requiring clearance was due to be completed in
2006.[51]
Technical survey in 2006 prioritized high impact communities identified by
the LIS, and large mine-suspected areas. According to RONCO, the
survey’s primary goal was to return land to communities as quickly as
possible. The technical survey teams aimed to survey half of the area
identified in the LIS (some 68 square
kilometers).[52]
Since 2004, Lebanon is said to have given increased attention to
post-clearance humanitarian factors and socioeconomic development, especially in
South Lebanon. Although the UNDP socioeconomic project based in South Lebanon
drafted project proposals in 2004 for rehabilitation of areas cleared of mines,
no sponsored socioeconomic development projects connected with mine action were
created in 2005 or 2006; cleared land was mainly developed by private or
commercial enterprises.[53]In its
2006 Integrated Work Plan, the NDO saw its support of socioeconomic development
increasing, for example with the post-clearance reconstruction of two roads and
one dam.[54]
Capacity-building assistance to the NDO in 2005 was provided by the US
departments of state and defense, UNDP and
UNMAS.[56]The NDO was expected to
rely on external assistance until 2009, although advisory services would be
reduced.[57]
In 2005, US support to humanitarian demining in Lebanon included the gift of
35 vehicles to the program, personnel protective equipment, detectors and other
mechanical equipment for the technical survey. RONCO provided technical
expertise, trained NDO staff and the Army Engineering Regiment in technical
survey, and conducted quality assurance of the survey. The US Department of
Defense provided training in underwater UXO
clearance.[58]
Evaluations of Mine Action
A review of the NDO mine action program was undertaken by GICHD in May
2006.[59]Results of the review
were not available for this edition of the Landmine Monitor.
Demining
In 2005, Lebanon’s core demining assets included the Army Engineering
Regiment’s demining teams and the NGO Mines Advisory Group (MAG). In
2005, the Engineering Regiment’s demining teams consisted of 38
supervisors, 240 deminers, 17 mine detection dog teams and mechanical equipment;
there was also an eight-member technical survey team, 25 medical staff, 24 EOD
personnel and 18 underwater EOD personnel. A 10-person survey team from the
army was tasked and managed by MACC SL to conduct clearance within MACC
SL’s area of operations.[60]Until March 2006, the Ukrainian demining battalion was also involved in
demining, supporting the UNIFIL mission in South Lebanon.
MAG teams included 31 deminers, six mechanical staff and three medical
staff.[61]
Identification of Mined Areas: Surveys and Assessments
The Lebanon Landmine Impact Survey, 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 communities highly impacted by mine
contamination and more than 250 communities with medium or low impact. LIS data
has been entered into the NDO and MACC SL
databases.[62]
The national technical survey started in 2005, undertaken by the NDO and Army
Engineering Regiment, with the support of RONCO. It is based on the LIS results
and expected to last 24 months. The US provided equipment and training for
technical survey and area reduction, in collaboration with RONCO, from January
to March 2005.[63]
A trial period began on 9 May 2005, and by 21 October the technical survey
was fully operational. By December 2005, 4,314,000 square meters had been
surveyed, resulting in 2,956,000 square meters being cancelled and released to
the population. Area reduction of a further 971,000 square meters and clearance
of about 375,000 square meters was planned. In 2005, the survey teams worked in
Mount Lebanon, one of the most affected provinces in the
country.[64]
In 2006, as of 16 May, NDO technical survey teams had surveyed 9.8 square
kilometers of suspected area, and 7.2 square kilometers had been cancelled or
released. Further area reduction was planned on 1.2 square kilometers, and some
500,000 square meters were deemed to need clearance. In 2006, RONCO added a new
category of “skip areas,” which are not surveyed either because they
are being cleared or they are politically sensitive (for example, Palestinian
military bases). In 2006, approximately 700,000 square meters had been skipped
by May.[65]
The technical survey uses data verification, marking and fencing and area
reduction teams. The data verification teams perform initial surveys of
suspected sites, and recommend a plan of action. When a clearance plan is
developed, a fence is erected around the area and the clearance plan is passed
onto the engineering regiment for execution. Area reduction uses manual,
mechanical and mine detection dog
methods.[66]
In 2005, MACC SL completed survey and information gathering for the proposed
Area 6, north of the Litani river. All known minefields and dangerous
areas were physically visited and investigated to determine the scope of work
required. Of the 500 minefields and dangerous areas visited and assessed, 286
were confirmed and clearance plans prepared and 82, totaling 984,000 square
meters, were cancelled and removed from the IMSMA database and released to the
local community.[67]MACC SL
explained that area cancellation is carried out by visual verification and
community survey without deploying mine clearance
assets.[68]
Marking and Fencing
Most of the 2,500 remaining minefields in Lebanon are not marked to
international standards; according to the NDO, this has been due to lack of
funding. However, the technical survey addressed marking and fencing in 2005.
Areas left for further clearance (375,000 square meters in 2005) were marked and
fenced by two strands of barbed wire on metal posts, with triangular mine
signs.[69]Also in 2005, the
Engineering Regiment with the assistance of MACC SL marked and fenced nine
kilometers of minefield boundaries believed to pose a direct threat to the
community along the Blue
Line.[70]
Mine and ERW Clearance
According to the NDO database, during 2005, a total of 2,024,990 square
meters was cleared, with 1,366 antipersonnel mines, 96 antivehicle mines and
31,566 UXO destroyed; a further 3,940,000 square meters was cancelled and
released for use.[71]
Areas Cleared, Cancelled and Surveyed (square meters) and Mines/UXO Destroyed in
Lebanon in 2005[72]
Operator
Area cleared
Antipersonnel mines
Antivehicle mines
UXO
Area cancelled
Area left future reduction/ clearance
Area of technical survey
Army clearance teams
1,855,528
351
67
31,473
Army technical survey teams
2,956,000
1,346,000
4,314,000
Army sampling teams
4,651
52
18
2
MACC SL
984,000
MAG
140,606
308
11
85
Ukrainian battalion
24,205
655
1
6
Total
2,024,990
1,366
97
31,566
3,940,000
1,346,000
4,314,000
In terms of clearance alone, productivity in 2005 was slightly below that of
2004 (2,083,459 square meters cleared; 2,929 antipersonnel mines, 287
antivehicle mines, 5,991 UXO
destroyed).[73]The NDO explained
that in 2005 the “clearance rates were hampered by the security situation
in Lebanon and national
elections.”[74]However, in
total, 5.9 square kilometers of land were released to the population in 2005
through survey and clearance operations while only 2 square kilometers were
released in 2004.[75]
MAG relocated its clearance operations to South Lebanon in May 2005, and MACC
SL, on behalf of the NDO, provided operational planning, support and quality
assurance. As a result, MACC SL reported that mine/UXO clearance and release of
land to communities significantly increased in this area. By December 2005, 16
dangerous and other suspected hazardous areas had been cleared and released
(over 93,000 square meters).[76]MAG clearance operations in 2005 in Mount Lebanon and Area 6 (the Israeli
minefields at Sejoud)[77]resulted
in clearance of 140,670 square meters and the destruction of 322 antipersonnel
mines, 11 antivehicle mines and 85 UXO. MAG deployed two manual clearance teams
(13 deminers each) and one mechanical
team.[78]
In 2006, MAG clearance continued in Area 6, with 24,838 square meters cleared
as of May 2006, destroying 38 antipersonnel mines, five antivehicle mines and 55
UXO. In 2006, MAG planned to increase its mine clearance capacity with the
addition of a UK-sponsored third demining
team.[79]
In October 2005, the government approved the start of clearance by MACC SL of
minefields on or adjoining the Blue Line, in particular the minefield at Marun
ar Ras. By the end of 2005, 70 antipersonnel mines had been cleared from that
minefield by the 10-person Lebanese Army survey team, under the supervision of
MACC SL.[80]As of May 2006, another
157 antipersonnel mines had been
cleared.[81]
In South Lebanon, MACC SL reported that land cleared was mainly agricultural,
grazing land and land used for
housing.[82]The NDO reported that
land is cleared firstly for agricultural and housing purposes, and secondly for
tourism and commercial property.[83]
One deminer was injured in 2005; on 1 September, a MAG deminer was injured by
a mine at the heavily contaminated Sejoud mine clearance site. Investigation
concluded that there was no breach of standing operating
procedures.[84]In the case of
demining accidents, Army deminers are treated by the Army’s healthcare
system and receive compensation. MAG has its own insurance policy and contracts
a private insurance company.[85]
Mine Risk Education
In its annual report for 2005, NDO reported that 20 percent of affected areas
still required mine risk education (MRE) and 35 percent needed refresher
sessions.[86]Casualties from mines
and UXO decreased between 2001 and 2004, but increased again in 2005. The
significant decline until 2004 was largely credited to MRE
efforts.[87]
Local NGOs with a network of 200 MRE-activists, the World Rehabilitation Fund
(WRF)[88]and mine clearance
organizations provide MRE in Lebanon. The Lebanon Mine Resource Center provides
training support, and Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) acts as a donor agency.
MACC SL focuses on community liaison as part of demining/EOD and data gathering,
and provides MRE and survivor assistance integrated with other mine
action.[89]
The NDO coordinates all MRE activities in Lebanon through its mine risk
education committee, which includes a representative of the Ministry of
Education who facilitates MRE in schools. The NDO planned to develop national
standards for MRE that will incorporate lessons learned and comply with
IMAS.[90]A team from GICHD visited
Lebanon for that purpose in May 2006.[91]
In 2005, 2,465 people were reached through MRE community meetings, excluding
MRE provided in schools, according to the IMSMA
database.[92]It was planned to
revisit 300 villages and their schools in 2005; however, security conditions
caused almost all MRE activities to be halted between February and
October.[93]A theater play
targeting school children reached 55,000 students and more than 2,000
teachers.[94]In October 2005,
staff from the LMRC visited a sample of schools who had attended the play; 65
percent knew at least three MRE messages from the play, and 15 out of 25
teachers visited had undertaken MRE activities in their
schools.[95]
MRE campaigns were launched in mine-affected villages and towns in north
Lebanon and Keserwan in 2005, involving meetings with municipality and social
leaders, school visits, door to door visits, meetings with the villagers and
farmers, and the distribution of MRE
materials.[96]Other MRE activities
included “capacity building lectures, workshops and conferences for local
and international organizations, and the participation in activities such as
summer and scouts camp”; MRE was also provided in military training camps
for “officers-to-be and military
recruits.”[97]
The NDO has stated that it aims to target all sectors of the
population.[98]Since 2004,
school-based MRE in mine-affected areas has received strong emphasis in Lebanon,
however, MRE is not yet part of the official school curriculum. MRE training of
teachers continued in 2005, conducted for 300 teachers by
RONCO.[99]NPA supported the
training of 142 school teachers in August-September 2005, mainly in Beirut. To
evaluate the school-based MRE program, the MRE committee visited approximately
50 schools and interviewed around 2, 500 students; 85 percent of children
surveyed knew at least three out of five of the MRE
messages.[100]Although a UNICEF
assessment in 2004 recommended that MRE should focus on schools, casualty data
indicated that the major at-risk group is older than 20 years (72 percent of
casualties were aged 21 to 50
years).[101]The NDO stated,
“The overwhelming number of males among civilian casualties emphasizes the
importance of gender considerations in mine risk education and mine victim
assistance.”[102]It is not
clear how the MRE strategy in Lebanon takes these age and gender specifics into
consideration. Herding and tampering with mines and UXO continued to be a major
cause of casualties in South Lebanon.
NDO reported that it used “...a holistic approach that involves the
launching of MRE campaigns, the training of key MRE activists and the
integration of MRE into the national educational system of
Lebanon.”[103]Campaigns
are based on a needs assessment undertaken region by region, supervised by NDO
and its MRE Committee.[104]
The majority of MRE activities were undertaken by about 200 civilian
volunteers, over 750 teachers, and the community liaison officers of clearance
operators. Activists receive five days of training in addition to a one day
refresher course; they must have three years of community development
experience. All volunteers receive a stipend to cover transportation
costs.[105]
NPA supported 18 MRE and 117 refresher sessions between July 2005 and May
2006, and around 120 MRE sessions in South Lebanon in
mid-2005.[106]
Twelve mine/UXO safety briefings were conducted by MACC SL for 68 newly
arrived UN observer group monitors in
2005.[107]European Union
election observers also received a briefing package on 31 May
2005.[108]
Community liaison teams were deployed by the NDO and MACC SL.
A DVD “Beware Mines” was produced in 2005 by WRF for children and
adults. A training kit for teachers was also developed and pilot
tested.[109]
NDO also uses television interviews, press releases and public events to
raise general awareness of the dangers of mines and
UXO.[110]The Beirut
International Marathon and Dance for Mine Action, both in November 2005, and
International Mine Awareness Day on 4 April 2006, were also used to spread
awareness as well as raise
funds.[111]
Funding and Assistance
Lebanon received some US$6.3 million in international mine action funding in
2005. A larger amount was received in 2004 ($9.7
million).[112]NDO records the
following international donations for
2005:[113]
France: €110,000 ($136,939) for training conducted in France;
Norway: NOK10 million ($1,552,506), consisting of NOK3 million ($465,752)
for survivor assistance by NPA, and NOK7 million ($1,086,754) for MAG demining
activities;
Saudi Arabia: $570,000 for demining equipment;
UAE: $310,000 in support of MACC SL operations;
UK: $145,564 for a UNDP capacity-building project;
UNDP: $94,300 for a UNDP capacity-building project;
UNICEF: $19,800 to reprint MRE material;
UNIFIL: $482,000 for MACC SL coordination and information management;
US: $3 million from the Department of State to RONCO for demining equipment,
vehicles and health kits.
The NDO also recorded contributions of $10,000 from the Lebanese community in
Liberia and OMR3,864 ($10,026) from the Lebanese community in
Oman.[114]These funds were
received, but not spent, in 2005. The NDO also received in-kind assistance,
which was not costed.[115]
Three donors reported contributions totaling $6,449,823 for mine action in
Lebanon in 2005, an increase from 2004 ($5,180,984 donated by six countries).
The donor countries in 2005 were Norway, NOK13,999,314
($2,173,402);[116]Switzerland,
CHF8,000 ($6,421);[117]and the
US, $4,270,000.[118]
MACC SL received contributions totalling $1,159,700 in 2005. Although this
is a slight increase from $1,552,485 in 2004, there is a clear trend of
diminishing funding since Operation Emirates Solidarity ended in
2004.[119]The MACC SL Annual
Report 2005 identified an “urgent and immediate need to secure further
funds” for mine clearance. The report also observed that the increases in
mine incidents experienced in 2005 “will not abate” if funding
continues to decline.[120]In
late 2005 and early 2006, media reports expressed concerns that the continuation
of clearance activities was seriously threatened by a lack of
finances.[121]
The UN Voluntary Trust Fund for Mine Action reported having received $510,000
for Lebanon in 2005 ($310,000 from the UAE and $200,000 from the
UK).[122]More was received in
2004 ($890,885 from three
countries).[123 ]UNDP’s
Thematic Trust Fund for Crisis Prevention and Recovery did not report receiving
any contributions for Lebanon in
2005.[124]
For 2005, RONCO recorded contributions of $2.3 million from the US Department
of State, $1 million from the US Department of Defense and additional funding
from the US Agency for International Development (USAID). RONCO reports that
since US fiscal year 1998, the US has provided $14,098,000 in humanitarian mine
action assistance to Lebanon (Department of State, $8,978,000; Department of
Defense, $2,400,000; USAID,
$2,700,000).[125]
Landmine/UXO Casualties
In 2005, at least 22 new landmine/UXO casualties were recorded, including
five people killed and 17 injured; all were civilians, three were female and
seven were younger than 18 years.[126]This is a significant increase compared to 2004, when 14 new mine/UXO
casualties (two killed, 12 injured) were recorded, and similar to 2003 (26
casualties).[127]The Lebanon
Landmine Resource Center recorded 22 casualties but reportedly the NDO recorded
26 casualties in 2005, including five killed and 21
injured.[128]
The majority of casualties are from South Lebanon, mainly Marjeyoun and
Nabatieh, and incidents occurred during recreational activities (28 percent),
while collecting scrap metal (28 percent), or while collecting edible plants (28
percent). In 2005, two Army deminers and one MAG deminer were injured during
mine clearance operations.[129]In September 2005, a Lebanese staff member of the Kuwaiti Embassy in
Lebanon died and two others were injured by UXO (a grenade) they were playing
with.[130]In December 2005, a
Sudanese citizen was injured in Tayyouneh, near Beirut, when UXO
exploded.[131]
The NDO attributed the increase in casualties to the economic situation;
landowners reclaim fenced land for use although it has not been cleared, and
there has been an upsurge in the scrap metal
trade.[132]
In 2006, as of May, there were several landmine, cluster bomb and grenade
incidents, but only two incidents caused casualties. Two men were killed and a
woman was injured by a grenade. On 17 May, a shepherd was killed by a mine in
Souk al-Gharb, Mount Lebanon. No deminers were killed during mine clearance
operations.[133]
The Lebanon Mine Resource Center at the Faculty of Health Sciences of the
University of Balamand maintains a mine casualty database, providing both the
NDO and MACC SL with casualty data for their IMSMA databases. In 2004, it
completed data collection in Chouf and Aley, the two most mine-affected
districts of Mount Lebanon province, under NDO supervision. As of May 2006, the
database contained records of 2,239 survivors; 41 percent were injured by
antipersonnel mines, nine percent by antivehicle mines, 10 percent by cluster
bombs and 40 percent by other UXO and “strange objects.” Updating
of the database is
ongoing.[134]
In June 2005, Lebanon stated that 3,975 landmine casualties (1,835 killed,
2,140 injured) had been identified since 1970, with 34 percent of casualties
aged 31-40 years.[135]Data from
the LIS is included in the NDO and MACC SL
databases.[136]
Survivor Assistance
The NDO is the focal point for survivor assistance activities in Lebanon.
The NDO’s End-State Strategy of 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.[137]
The NDO Long Term Plan 2005-2009, launched on 8 December 2005, stated that,
“Victim Assistance continues to suffer from a lack of funding; however the
NDO is supporting the inclusion of mine victim specific language in the law on
the rights of persons with disabilities through the Ministry of Social
Affairs.” The Long Term Plan aimed to make victim assistance available in
all its aspects to grant mine survivors their full legal rights “through
the coordination of mine victim support provided by concerned ministries,
international and national governmental and non-governmental organizations and
institutions.”[138]The NDO
does not coordinate providers of survivor assistance. To ensure high quality,
it planned to develop national standards which organizations must meet in order
to qualify for accreditation; they will also receive information about relevant
ministries and actors in order to avoid duplication of
activities.[139]
NDO workplans for 2005 and 2006 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, as well as developing national
standards.[140]Due to the
ongoing socio-political tension in Lebanon, little progress has been made by
survivor assistance programs; in the first three months of 2006, no donor funds
were received for such projects.[141]
The government pays for initial, but not for long-term hospital care. Most
Lebanese citizens have access to services and are covered by state social
insurance. However, the National Social Security Fund has had funding
difficulties and the Ministry of Health has not been able to finance hospitals
for their services, leaving Lebanese who cannot afford private insurance in a
precarious situation.[142]
The Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Social Affairs and NGOs provide
rehabilitation services; there are over 30 physical rehabilitation
centers.[143]The costs of
prosthetics, physiotherapy and rehabilitation are usually covered by the state.
NGOs provide the services and are later reimbursed for the
costs.[144]Some of these
services were not functioning to capacity in 2005-2006 due to government funding
constraints.[145]People
requiring a prosthesis receive the first one for free, but after that they
cannot get free repairs or replacements for two years, which is especially
problematic for children. The NDO hoped to change this policy for young people
and children.[146]There is no
coordination between the Ministry of Health and the Council of the South;
however, the NDO planned to create a network between all the relevant
stakeholders to avoid overlap.[147]
Support to landmine survivors and other people 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.[148]
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) supported the Sidon
Orphan Welfare Society, covering Sidon and two neighboring Palestinian refugee
camps with the supply of materials and components, technical support and
financial assistance to cover the cost of services for Palestinian refugees. In
2005, the Sidon center assisted more than 120 people, and produced 25 prostheses
and 21 orthoses; it is not known if any prostheses were for landmine survivors.
ICRC focused solely on Palestinian refugees, as they do not have access to
physical rehabilitation under the Lebanese health/social welfare system. In
2006, ICRC will focus on assisting Palestinians gain access to orthotic
services. [149]
The US-based World Rehabilitation Fund implements activities in cooperation
with NDO and partner organizations for the socioeconomic reintegration of mine
survivors. It provides technical and material assistance in support of
capacity-building and income-generating activities. WRF funds and supports the
Jezzine Landmine Survivor Cooperative; by December 2005, more than 1,000 people,
including 313 mine/UXO survivors, and families of those killed in mine/UXO
incidents and their dependents had benefited from the project. In 2005, 41 new
mine survivors benefited from the program, but there was a waiting list due to
funding limitations. As of February 2006, 139 of the project’s graduates
had sufficient and lasting income. Social counseling, job placement and
extracurricular activities are also available for mine survivors and their
families. WRF supports the Lebanon Mine Resource Center in data collection and
analysis and is an active member of the NDO victim assistance committee. Main
achievements in 2005 were the enlargement of the program to include all war
victims, launching a new agricultural production line and increasing the average
monthly income of the beneficiaries to $250. The WRF project in Jezzine is
supported by USAID and Leahy War Victims Fund; the Ministry of Agriculture
provides technical support and NDO provides advocacy support. An external
evaluation of the project concluded that the Jezzine Landmine Survivor
Cooperative is economically sustainable and financially
viable.[150]
Norwegian People’s Aid continued to implement survivor assistance
programs, in cooperation with NDO, either directly or through eight partners.
It developed a code of conduct and workplan to enhance the capacity of its
partners, to improve coordination and to expand outreach to assist more
survivors.[151]In 2005, 453
mine/UXO survivors received direct services from NPA, and many others
participated in public events. There was a waiting list due to financial
restrictions. NPA provided 35 mine survivors with micro-loans, 44 survivors
with artificial limbs and 10 others with other assistive devices, made one
private home and two NGO centers accessible, and covered the medical costs for
four survivors. In 2006, NPA equipped three ambulances with emergency and
trauma kits and supported a summer camp for Arab mine survivors scheduled for
September 2006. In 2006, NPA approached an external evaluator for the
micro-credit schemes operated by local
partners.[152]
In 2005, the Lebanon Mine Resource Center undertook the Impact Assessment
Study of Income Generating Projects for Landmine Survivors in Lebanon, with
funding from NPA ($5,000) and interviewed 20 survivors; 25 percent were not
satisfied with the services and stated that they needed further financial
assistance, better training and, in two cases, that physical limitations impeded
progress. In 2005 through March 2006, the center revisited landmine survivors
injured between 2000 and 2005. It organized focus group meetings with mine
survivors from different regions to assess their needs, find out their
aspirations and the anticipated role they would like to play, provided they
received adequate training. Preliminary results showed that security and
socioeconomic conditions in the country were perceived as a major obstacle;
support was needed for tuition fees for the children of survivors; and receiving
health insurance and appropriate income-generating projects were priorities.
NPA funded this activity ($10,000). The center contributed to activities
advocating for the implementation of the 2000 Access and Rights of the Disabled
Law in Lebanon and for the proposed Comprehensive and Integral International
Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons
with Disabilities.[153]
The Lebanese Welfare Association for the Handicapped 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. It also supports the Mine Survivors Club,
which compiled a detailed needs assessment file for each survivor, and offered a
small package of basic nutritional items to each household visited. The
association runs the Nabih Berri Rehabilitation Center in Nabatieh which, in
2005, produced 29 prostheses and 112 orthoses, and provided 293 wheelchairs, 145
crutches, 177 water mattresses and 11 walkers. The association also provided
eight micro-credit loans to landmine survivors, with a budget of $10,000
provided by NPA. It established a landmine survivor football team with a
trainer specialized in disability sports; the team also received psychosocial
support services. The association is partially funded by the Ministry of
Health, Ministry of Social Affairs, WRF and UNICEF, as well as
NPA.[154]
Al-Jarha Welfare Association for the War Wounded and Disabled in Lebanon
works with survivors and other people with disabilities to promote their
reintegration through the provision of physiotherapy and prosthetic devices,
vocational training, equipment and income-generating projects. Al-Jarha
provides recreational opportunities and organizes disabled sports events. In
2005, 317 war-injured, including 173 mine/UXO survivors, were assisted.
Al-Jarha’s prosthetic center provided 10 prosthetic devices, six
wheelchairs and 12 pairs of crutches to mine/UXO survivors; the vocation
training center trained 20 survivors. All services are free of charge and free
transport is also available for those who cannot afford it. The organization
provides support for the payment of tuition fees for children, and wives of
war-injured are accepted for the vocational training courses. Al-Jarha is a
member of the National Council for the Disabled and advocates for the Access and
Rights of the Disabled Law. In 2005, Al-Jarha had an annual budget of $253,472,
of which $203,773 was spent on direct social assistance, $39,600 on health and
medical care, and $10,100 on vocational training and rehabilitation; this does
include the support Al-Jarha receives from
NPA.[155]
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. Vision Association manages two first aid centers and
trained 35 volunteers in first aid. In 2005, the first aid centers were visited
by 30 landmine survivors. Vision Association provided 125 prostheses, 100
wheelchairs and 300 crutches, walkers and water mattresses. In 2005, 12
landmine survivors were assisted with kiosks; 60 landmine survivors participated
in different vocational training activities and 16 benefited from the
income-generating program managed with funds from NPA
($10,000).[156]
The National Center for Development and Rehabilitation in West Mount Lebanon,
provides data collection, emergency medical care, physical rehabilitation,
vocational training, psychosocial support, awareness raising and advocacy for
legislation implementation, with support from NPA, Balamand University and the
Ministry of Health. In 2005, 72 people with disabilities, including 24 landmine
survivors, received rehabilitation services and 212 beneficiaries received
vocational training, including several landmine survivors. Between 2000 and
2005, the center provided 523 prosthetic devices, 108 wheelchairs, and 194
crutches. The center has 15 physiotherapists and prosthetic specialists, and
six psychologists. It operates with an annual budget of approximately $100,000,
provided through local funding, government support and donor agencies (including
NPA).[157]
The Islamic Health Council operates an extensive ambulance network and first
aid training with NPA and WRF support in South Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley. In
2005, it started a small micro-credit and socioeconomic reintegration program.
As of February 2006, it had provided five survivors with cows and/or chickens
for farming activities; NPA provided $7,500 for this activity. After an NPA
evaluation of the first phases of the project it was decided to provide
additional on-the-job training for the cow farmers. Socioeconomic, political
and security conditions, as well as well as the bird flu scare hampered
operations. The ambulance service and maintenance requires an annual budget of
$20,000, raised from local fundraising; first aid training is done on a
voluntary basis with WRF and NPA
support.[158]
The Welfare Association for the Handicapped in Nabatiyah (WAHNAB) provides
prosthetic services, physiotherapy, vocational training and micro-credit, as
well as various advocacy and awareness-raising activities. WAHNAB was the first
organization in Lebanon to start micro-credit projects for landmine survivors
and people with disabilities in 1987. In 2005, WAHNAB assisted 300 people
including 100 landmine survivors. WAHNAB provided 41 prosthetic devices, 16
wheelchairs, 75 crutches and 75 other mobility aids. WAHNAB has 10 prosthetic
specialists and physiotherapists. WAHNAB provided vocational training for 50
beneficiaries in 2005. For families, assistance with school fees and
psychological support were provided. The NPA evaluation of the program in 2005
was favorable. The 2005 annual budget of WAHNAB exceeded $100,000, from
international donors.[159]
Other organizations assisting people with disabilities in Lebanon include the
Philanthropic Association for Disabled Care in Nabatiyah, Association of
Volunteers in International Service and Handicap International
(HI).[160]
In March 2005, one landmine survivor from Lebanon participated in training
(in Amman, Jordan) on human rights, advocacy and the Comprehensive and Integral
International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity
of Persons with Disabilities. Another survivor participated in a similar
training in Beirut in September
2005.[161]
Landmine survivors also participated in the 2005 Beirut marathon together
with NDO and MACC SL staff and NGOs. A regional marathon was scheduled for June
2006 to support mine action in Lebanon. MACC SL organized a dancing evening to
raise awareness and funding for mine action in Lebanon on 21 November 2005,
collecting $6,000, which was donated to MAG.
[162]A similar event on 4 April 2006 raised
$12,000.[163]
On 27 September 2005, MAG organized a football match between its deminers and
a team of landmine
survivors.[164]
Disability Policy and Practice
Lebanon has legislation to protect the rights of people with disabilities;
however, the law is reportedly not yet
effective.[165]Reportedly, the
Civil Service Board, in charge of recruiting government employees, refused to
receive applications from disabled people. The law stipulates that people with
disabilities should fill three percent of all government and private sector
positions, but this is not enforced in
practice.[166]
The Long Term Plan 2005-2009 states that the NDO will “Advocate, in
coordination with the Ministries of Social Affairs and Health, for the provision
of funding by the Government for the implementation of the “Access and
Rights of the Disabled”
law.[167]
Approximately 100,000 people were disabled during the war and are mainly
cared for by the family support network and approximately 100 NGOs and private
organizations.[168]
[1] See for example, statement of Amb. Michel
Haddad, First Review Conference of the Mine Ban Treaty, Nairobi, 3 December
2004. The Ambassador 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, 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.” [2] Confidential interviews in
Beirut, 13 and 18 December 2005, and 7, 12, 16 and 28 January 2006. In public
remarks at the opening ceremony on 16 January 2006 of the Engaging Youth in Mine
Action workshop, the ambassadors of Canada and the Netherlands spoke of
Lebanon’s important steps towards joining the Mine Ban Treaty. [3] Email reports from Amb. Satnam
Jit Singh, ICBL Diplomatic Advisor, 15, 18 and 19 June 2006. [4] In December 1999, Lebanon
became the first and only country to ever vote against the annual pro-ban UNGA
resolution. It was among the small number of countries abstaining from voting
each year from 2000 to 2004. [5] NDO, Lebanon Mine Action
Program, “Annual Report 2005,” p. 9. As of mid-2006, Lebanon had
not joined CCW. [6] UNMACC SL, “2005 Annual
Report,” 23 January 2006, p. 8. [7] Lebanon attended the First
Review Conference in Nairobi in November-December 2004, as well as all the
intersessional meetings in 2003 and 2004. [8] Information provided by
Habbouba Aoun, LMRC, Beirut, 14 March 2006. [9] Statement by Amb. Michel
Haddad, First Review Conference, Nairobi, 3 December 2004. [10] UNMACC SL, “2005
Annual Report,” 23 January 2006, p. 8. [11] NDO, Lebanon Mine Action
Program, “Annual Report 2004,” p. 2. [12] UNDP, “The Completion
Initiative Concept Paper and National Plans,” 15 June 2005, p. 57;
“Report of the UN Secretary-General on the United Nations Interim Force in
Lebanon (UNIFIL),” S/2006/26, 18 January 2006, p. 1. [13] NDO, Lebanon Mine Action
Program, “Annual Report 2004,” p. 2. [14] UN Mine Action Service
(UNMAS), “Annual Report 2005,” New York, 2006, p. 52. [15] UN, “Country profile:
Lebanon,” www.mineaction.org,
accessed 28 July 2005; see Landmine Monitor Report 2004, pp.
1054-1055. [16] UN, “Country profile:
Lebanon.” [17] See Landmine Monitor
Report 2004, p. 800. [18] UN, “2006 Portfolio of
Mine Action Projects,” New York, p. 252. [19] See Landmine Monitor
Report 2005, p. 801. [20] Interview with Col. Khaled
El-Alieh, Head of the Mine Risk Education and Victim Assistance sections, NDO,
Beirut, 17 March 2006. [21] UN, “2006 Portfolio of
Mine Action Projects,” New York, p. 252; telephone interview with Allan
Poston, Chief Technical Advisor, UNDP/NDO, 18 May 2006. [22] Interviews 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
Landmine Monitor Report 2004,
p. 1055. [23] Email from William Barron,
VVAF, 5 July 2006. [24] For details of the OES
project, see Landmine Monitor Report 2005, p. 801; MACC SL,
“Quarterly Report, January to March 2006,” p. 2. [25] UNMAS, “Annual Report
2005,” New York, 2006, p. 51. [26] NDO, “Lebanon Mine
Action Program, Annual Report 2005,” p. 9; see Landmine Monitor Report
2005, p. 801. [27] MACC SL, “Quarterly
Report, October to December 2004,” p. 4; MACC SL, “Quarterly report,
January to March 2006,” p. 2. [28] MACC SL, “Quarterly
report, January to March 2006,” p. 2; emails from Christopher Clark, Chief
Technical Advisor/Programme Manager, MACC SL, 28 April and 12 May 2006. [29] “China sets up
peace-keeping battalion for Lebanon mission,” Xinhua (China), 28
February 2006; “China sends police dogs to join UN landmine clearance
mission in Lebanon,” Xinhua, 2 March 2006. [30] MACC SL, “Quarterly
report, January to March 2006,” p. 2; emails from Christopher Clark, 28
April and 12 May 2006. [31] NDO, “Annual report
2005,” undated but 2006, p. 8. [32] NDO, “Integrated Work
Plan for Mine Action 2006,” p. 7; “Annual Report 2005,” p. 8;
interview with Gen. Salim Raad, Director, NDO, Beirut, 12 January 2006. [33] NDO, “Integrated Work
Plan for Mine Action 2006,” pp. 7-8; telephone interview with Allan
Poston, UNDP/NDO, 18 May 2006. [34] NDO, “Integrated Work
Plan for Mine Action 2006,” p. 7; interview with Gen. Salim Raad, NDO,
Beirut, 12 January 2006. [35] NDO, “Integrated
Working Plan 2006,” undated, p. 10. [36] NDO, “Annual Report
2005,” p. 8; telephone interview with Allan Poston, UNDP/NDO, 17 May
2006. [37] NDO, “Integrated Work
Plan for Mine Action 2006,” p. 7. [38] Email from Allan Poston,
UNDP/NDO, 25 May 2006. [39] UN, “2006 Portfolio of
Mine Action Projects,” New York, p. 252; see Landmine Monitor Report
2005, pp. 801-802. [40] NDO, Lebanon Mine Action
Program, “End-State Strategy (ESS) for Mine Action in Lebanon, Demining
End-State Condition,” 2004, p. 9. [41] NDO, Lebanon Mine Action
Program, “Long-Term Plan 2005-2009,” 8 December 2005, pp. 3-9. [42] UNDP, “The Completion
Initiative Concept Paper and National Plans,” 15 June 2005, p. 58. [43] NDO, “Annual Report
2005,” undated but 2006, pp. 9-10. [44] Email from Allan Poston,
UNDP/NDO, 25 May 2006. [45] NDO, “Long Term Plan
2005-2009,” pp. 3-8. [46] NDO/UNDP, “National
Plan for Completion,” May 2005, pp. 3-4. [47] NDO, “Annual Report
2005,” p. 3. [48] NDO, “Integrated Work
Plan for Mine Action 2005,” p. 11. [49] NDO, “Annual Report
2005,” pp. 3-4; interviews with Gen. Salim Raad, NDO, and Col. Roland Abou
Jawdeh, Head of Engineering Regiment, NDO, Beirut, 18 December 2005. [50] Interview with Patrick van
Beuge, Project Manager, RONCO, Beirut, 17 March 2006; email from H. Murphey
McCloy Jr., Senior Demining Advisor, US Department of State, 7 July 2006. [51] NDO, “Integrated Work
Plan for Mine Action 2006,” undated, p. 11. [52] Email from Patrick van
Beuge, RONCO, Lebanon, 17 May 2006. [53] NDO, “Annual Report
2005,” p. 11; email from Allan Poston, UNDP/NDO, 17 May 2006; see
Landmine Monitor Report 2005, p. 803. [54] NDO, “Integrated Work
Plan for Mine Action 2006,” p. 9.
55 Interview with Gen. Salim Raad, NDO, Beirut, 10 November 2005. [56] NDO, “Annual Report
2005,” undated but 2006, p. 5 and 14. [57] UNDP, “The Completion
Initiative Concept Paper and National Plans,” 15 June 2005, p. 57. [58] Email from Patrick van
Beuge, RONCO, Lebanon, 18 May 2006. [59] Telephone interview with
Allan Poston, UNDP/NDO, 17 May 2006. [60] Email from Rana Elias,
Programme Information Officer, MACC SL, 7 July 2006. [61] NDO, “Annual Report
2005,” p. 4; email from Andy Gleeson, Technical Operations Manager, MAG,
Lebanon, 22 May 2006. [62] See Landmine Monitor
Report 2004, p. 1055. [63] NDO, “Annual Report
2005,” p. 5. The survey was funded by the US Department of State. Email
from H. Murphey McCloy Jr., US Department of State, 7 July 2006. [64] Interview with Lt. Col.
Marwan Sakr, NDO, Beirut, 3 March 2006; NDO, “Annual Report 2005,”
p. 5; email from Patrick van Beuge, RONCO, Lebanon, 17 May 2006. [65] Email from Patrick van
Beuge, RONCO, Lebanon, 17 May 2006. [66] Ibid. [67] MACC SL, “Quarterly
report, September to December 2005,” p. 4; email from Christopher Clark,
MACC SL, 28 April 2006; see Landmine Monitor Report 2005, pp.
803-804. [68] Email from Christopher
Clark, MACC SL, 12 May 2006. [69] NDO, “Annual Report
2004,” p. 15; “Integrated Work Plan for Mine Action 2005,” p.
12; emails from Patrick van Beuge, RONCO, Lebanon, 17 and 18 May 2006. [70] MACC SL, “Annual
Report 2005,” p. 1; email from Christopher Clark, MACC SL, 12 May
2006. [71] NDO, “Annual Report
2005,” p. 5. [72] Ibid; MACC SL, “Annual
Report 2005,” p. 3; email from Patrick van Beuge, RONCO, Lebanon, 18 May
2006. [73] See Landmine Monitor
Report 2005, p. 804. [74] NDO, “Annual Report
2005,” p. 4. [75] See Landmine Monitor
Report 2005, pp. 803-806. There was no release of land by survey in 2004;
all land had been released through clearance operations. [76] MACC SL, “Annual
Report 2005,” p. 4. [77] Between 2002 and 2004,
Operation Emirates Solidarity cleared and released 4.9 square kilometers in
former Israeli-occupied territories in South Lebanon; the project closed in June
2004, with clearance incomplete in Area 6. See Landmine Monitor Report
2005, pp. 805-806. [78] MACC SL, “Annual
Report 2005,” p. 4; NDO in its 2005 report noted MAG clearance as 64
square meters less and 14 antipersonnel mines less. MAG explained this must
result from a one week difference in the reporting period. Emails from Andy
Gleeson, MAG, Lebanon, 22 and 24 May 2006. [79] Email from Christopher
Clark, MACC SL, 28 April 2006; email from Andy Gleeson, MAG, Lebanon, 22 May
2006. [80] Email from Rana Elias, MACC
SL, 7 July 2006. [81] Email from Christopher
Clark, MACC SL, 28 April and 12 May 2006. [82] Ibid. [83] Email from Allan Poston,
UNDP/NDO, 16 May 2006. [84] MACC SL, “Quarterly
Report, July to September 2005,” p. 4. [85] Email from Allan Poston,
UNDP/NDO, 25 May 2006. [86] NDO, “Annual Report
2005,” p. 2. [87] Ibid, pp. 7, 11; MACC SL,
“Annual Report 2005,” p. 11. See Landmine/UXO Casualties
section for details. [88] In 2005, WRF continued its
victim assistance project in Jezzine including some MRE. [89] MACC SL, “Annual
Report 2005,” p. 7. [90] NDO, “Long Term Plan
2005-2009,” Enabling Objective 2.5, p. 8. [91] Email from Habbouba Aoun,
LMRC, 24 May 2006. [92] MRE IMSMA report provided to
Landmine Monitor on 23 March 2006. The breakdown by region is 62 adults in
Beirut, 40 youth and 250 youth/adults in South Lebanon, 80 adults and 503
youth/adults in Mount Lebanon, and 435 youth and 1095 youth/adults in
Nabatiyah. [93] Information provided by
Habbouba Aoun, LMRC, Beirut, 14 March 2006. [94] Information provided by
Habbouba Aoun, LMRC, Beirut, 14 June 2005. [95] Habbouba Aoun, LMRC,
conducted the work in the presence of Abdallah Noureddine, representative of the
Islamic Health Council. [96] NDO, “Annual Report
2005,” p. 6; email from Anissa Sabaayon, Coordinator, Landmine Action and
Relief Program, NPA Lebanon, 24 May 2006. [97] NDO, “Annual Report
2005,” p. 6. [98] Ibid, p. 12. [99] Email from Patrick van
Beuge, RONCO, Lebanon, 18 May 2006. [100] Interview with Col.
Taneer, former head of the MRE Section at the NDO, National MRE Committee
Meeting, 13 October 2005. [101] NDO, “Annual Report
2005,” p. 13. [102] Ibid. [103] NDO, “Long Term
Plan 2005-2009,” Enabling Objective 2.5, p. 7. [104] Email from Habbouba Aoun,
LMRC, 23 May 2006. [105] Information provided by
Habbouba Aoun, LMRC, Beirut, 14 June 2005. [106] Emails from Anissa
Sabaayon, NPA Lebanon, 31 March 2006 and 24 May 2006. [107] MACC SL, “Annual
Report,” p. 6. [108] MACC SL, “Quarterly
Report, October to December 2005,” p. 5. [109] Information provided by
Habbouba Aoun, LMRC, Beirut, 14 March 2006. [110] NDO, “Annual Report
2005,” pp. 6, 10. [111] MACC SL, “Annual
Report 2005,” p. 8; email from Christopher Clark, UNMACC SL, 15 March
2006; meeting of MRE committee, 23 March 2006; MACC SL, “Quarterly Report,
October to December 2005,” p. 2; MACC SL, “Annual Report
2005,” pp. 8-9. [112] See Landmine Monitor
Report 2005, pp. 808-809. [113] NDO, “Annual Report
2005,” Annex A. Currency conversion at average exchange rate for 2005:
€1 = US$1.2449; US$1 = NOK6.4412. US Federal Reserve, “List of
Exchange Rates (Annual),” 3 January 2006. The NPA victim assistance
contribution was from 2004 to the end of 2005. [114] NDO, “Annual Report
2005, ” Annex A. Average exchange rate for 2005: US$1 = OMR0.38539.
Landmine Monitor estimate based on www.oanda.com. [115] NDO, “Annual Report
2005,” Annex A. [116] Email from Annette A.
Landell-Mills, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 21 June 2006. Average exchange rate
for 2005: US$1 = NOK6.4412. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates
(Annual),” 3 January 2006. [117] Email from Rémy
Friedmann, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 28 April 2006. Average exchange rate
for 2005: US$1 = CHF1.2459. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates
(Annual),” 3 January 2006. [118] USG Historical Chart
containing data for FY 2005, by email from Angela L. Jeffries, Financial
Management Specialist, US Department of State, 8 June 2006. [119] MACC SL, “Annual
Report 2005,” Annex C. [120] Ibid, p. 5. [121] See Jessy Chahine,
“Old Bombs Continue to Maim as Support for De-Mining Dwindles,”
Daily Star (Beirut), 6 December 2005; Linda Dahdah, “Lebanon:
Resurgence in Landmine Injuries, Fatalities,” IRIN (Beirut), 2
January 2006. [122] UNMAS, “Annual
Report 2005,” p. 61. These amounts were recorded by NDO and have not been
included in the total of $6.3 million. [123 ] UNMAS, “Annual
Report 2004,” p. 33. [124] UNDP, “Mine Action
Contributions to UNDP’s Thematic Trust Fund for Crisis Prevention and
Recovery,” 20 April 2006. [125] Email from Patrick van
Beuge, RONCO, Lebanon, 17 May 2006. [126] Unless otherwise stated,
information on landmine casualties is taken from the LMRC database as of May
2006. [127] See Landmine Monitor
Report 2005, p. 809; Landmine Monitor Report 2004, p. 1061. [128] “Land-mine victims
on the rise,” IRIN, 4 January 2006, www.irinnews.org, accessed 3
May 2006. [129] Email from Habbouba Aoun,
LMRC, 2 May 2006. [130] “Granaat ontploft
op ambassade Koeweit (Grenade explodes in Kuwaiti Embassy),” De
Standaard (Beirut), 21 September 2005. [131] Jessy Chahine, “Old
bombs continue to maim as support for de-mining dwindles,” Daily
Star (Beirut), 16 December 2005. [132] Interview with Lt. Col.
Khaled El-Alieh, NDO, and Chairman, NMVA, Geneva, 9 May 2006. [133] Email from Habbouba Aoun,
LMRC, 2 May 2006. [134] Ibid. [135] Presentation by Lt. Col.
Khaled El-Alieh, NDO, Standing Committee on Victim Assistance and
Socio-Economic Reintegration, Geneva, 17 June 2005. [136] “Landmine Impact
Survey - Lebanon,” SAC, Washington DC, February 2005, pp. 20, 23-24. [137] NDO, “End-State
Strategy (ESS) for Mine Action in Lebanon,” Beirut, December 2004, p.
7. [138] NDO, “Long Term
Plan 2005-2009,” Beirut, 8 December 2005, pp. 3, 7-8. [139] Interview with Lt. Col.
Khaled El-Alieh, NDO, Geneva, 9 May 2006. [140] NDO, “Integrated
Work Plan for Mine Action in 2005,” Annex C; NDO, “Integrated Work
Plan for Mine Action in 2006,” pp. 6-7. [141] Email from Habbouba Aoun,
LMRC, 2 May 2006; Mine Action Support Group, “MASG Newsletter-First
Quarter of 2006,” Washington DC, 1 May 2006. [142] “Landmine Impact
Survey - Lebanon,” SAC, Washington DC, February 2005, pp. 35-36; interview
with Lt. Col. Khaled El-Alieh, NDO, Geneva, 9 May 2006; email from Habbouba
Aoun, LMRC, Beirut, 4 May 2006. [143] ICRC, “Physical
Rehabilitation Programme - Annual Report 2005,” Geneva, July 2006, p. 44.
[144] Interview with Lt. Col.
Khaled El-Alieh, NDO, Geneva, 9 May 2006; email from Habbouba Aoun, LMRC, 2
May 2006. [145] Email from Habbouba Aoun,
LMRC, 4 May 2006. [146] Interview with Lt. Col.
Khaled El-Alieh, NDO, Geneva, 9 May 2006. [147] Email from Lt. Col.
Khaled El-Alieh, NDO, 27 July 2005; see Landmine Monitor Report
2004, p. 1062. [148] Email from Lt. Col.
Khaled El-Alieh, NDO, 27 July 2005. [149] ICRC, “Physical
Rehabilitation Programme - Annual Report 2005,” Geneva, July 2006, p. 44.
For details of services in South Lebanon, see Landmine Monitor Report
2005, p. 810. [150] Response to Landmine
Monitor VA Questionnaire by Nadim Karam, Country Director, WRF, Beirut, 28
February 2006. [151] Response to Landmine
Monitor VA Questionnaire by Anissa Sabaayon, Mine Action Program Coordinator,
NPA Lebanon, Beirut, 27 February 2006; see Landmine Monitor Report 2005,
pp. 810-811. [152] Email from Anissa
Sabaayon, NPA Lebanon, Beirut, 31 March 2006. [153] Email from Habbouba Aoun,
LMRC, 20 March 2006. [154] Response to Landmine
Monitor VA Questionnaire from Nada Abdallah, Victim Assistance Project Officer,
Lebanese Welfare Association for the Handicapped, 25 February 2006; see
Landmine Monitor Report 2005, p. 811. [155] Response to Landmine
Monitor VA Questionnaire from Imad Khoshman, Victim Assistance Project Officer,
Al-Jarha, Beirut, 27 February 2006. [156] Response to Landmine
Monitor VA Questionnaire from Dr. Nasser Abou Ltaif, Head, Vision Association,
Beirut, 18 May 2006. [157] Response to Landmine
Monitor VA Questionnaire from Ziad Khowayss, Manager, Victim Assistance
Portfolio, NCDR, Beirut, 25 February 2006. [158] Response to Landmine
Monitor VA Questionnaire from Abdallah Noureddine, Victim Assistance
Coordinator, Islamic Health Council, 17 February 2006. [159] Response to Landmine
Monitor VA Questionnaire from Nada Ismail, Head, WAHNAB, 17 March 2006. [160] “Landmine Impact
Survey - Lebanon,” SAC, Washington DC, February 2005, p. 39; HI, www.handicap-international.org.uk;
see www.avsi.org. [161] Email from Habbouba Aoun,
LMRC, 4 May 2006. [162] MACC SL, “2005
Annual Report,” 6 January 2006, p. 6; email from Chris Clark, MACC SL, 15
March 2006; meeting of MRE committee, NDO, Beirut, 23 March 2006. [163] Email from Habbouba Aoun,
LMRC, 4 May 2006. [164] Mohammed Zaatari,
“Mine survivors challenge mine clearers to football match,” Daily
Star (Nabatiyah), 27 September 2005. [165] See Landmine Monitor
Report 2004, p. 1064; US Department of State, “Country Reports on
Human Rights Practices-2005: Lebanon,” Washington DC, 8 March 2006. [166] US Department of State,
“Country Reports on Human Rights Practices-2005: Lebanon,”
Washington DC, 8 March 2006. [167] NDO, “Long Term
Plan 2005-2009,” p. 8. [168] US Department of State,
“Country Reports on Human Rights Practices-2005: Lebanon,”
Washington DC, 8 March 2006.