Israeli bomb disposal units are combing the north of the country for unexploded Hezbollah rockets left over from the recent conflict in an operation that will continue for months, Israeli police say. Hezbollah fired nearly 4,000 rockets - including more than 100 containing cluster bombs - into the densely populated Galilee region in Israel’s far north as well as cities further south such as Haifa, killing 43 civilians. While the risks to residents of southern Lebanon from an estimated one million unexploded cluster bombs fired by Israel are well-documented, Israeli officials say the world has largely ignored the problems caused by unexploded Hezbollah rockets in their country. However, no one has been killed or injured by unexploded rockets, Israeli police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld told IRIN. Read more about Unexploded Hezbollah rockets pose risk 

Thirteen-year old Khodor will be discharged from the hospital in Marjayoun soon when his aunt comes to pick him up. Khodor’s 11-year-old brother was killed in the same incident when the boys were collecting firewood and a cluster submunition exploded next to them. Unfortunately, the story of Khodor and his brother is a familiar one today in the southern part of Lebanon. Every week the UN’s Mine Action Coordination Centre publishes new figures of civilians injured and wounded by unexploded ordnance. Since the beginning of the ceasefire on August 12 more than 140 casualties, including 20 deaths, have been reported. Read more about Where childhood games are dangerous 

Up to 200,000 people could still be displaced in Lebanon nearly three months after the Israel-Hezbollah conflict ended, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said on Tuesday. “We don’t have the precise number of IDPs [internally displaced people] since there has been no formal registration, but we can estimate their number to 150,000 - 200,000,” Stephane Jaquemet, UNHCR regional representative in Lebanon, told IRIN. He added that the vast majority of the displaced live with friends or relatives and not in collective centres. This has made it harder for relief workers and authorities to work out an exact figure for the numbers displaced and to assess their needs. Read more about Up to 200,000 still displaced after war, UN says 

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today wrapped up a successful three-month operation in Lebanon to feed over 810,000 people displaced or otherwise affected by this summer’s fighting between Israel and Hizbollah, providing nearly 13,000 tons of food throughout the country. “The Lebanese government will take care of the few remaining pockets that may need some assistance to secure their basic food needs, but for WFP our mission is complete,” the agency’s emergency coordinator for Lebanon, Zlatan Milisic, said. Read more about UN agency concludes operation to feed 810,000 mostly displaced people 

The destruction in villages and displacement of residents in southern Lebanon from the recent war posed problems for medical volunteers on the first day of a national emergency polio immunisation campaign for children on Monday. “Usually, we would know exactly where to go to immunise the children,” said nurse Nawal Saab, a member of one of the teams carrying out door-to-door immunisations in Bint Jbeil, 110 km south of Beirut. “This year, because so many houses have been destroyed and so many families have had to move in with relatives, outreach has been rendered more complicated.” Read more about Destruction and displacement hamper vaccination campaign 

The acting head of the United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon today held further “productive” talks with senior Lebanese and Israeli officers aimed at securing Israel’s speedy withdrawal from the last position it occupies in the south of the country after this summer’s war with Hizbollah. “Minor administrative issues with relation to Ghajar residents are still pending, and UNIFIL (UN Interim Force in Lebanon) hopes they will be solved at the next meeting early next week,” the Mission said in a statement. Read more about UN commander holds 'productive' talks on securing final Israeli withdrawal 

The military leader of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) today voiced serious concern over the increasing number of air violations over South Lebanon by Israeli planes, with nine occurring during the past 24 hours. “It is in the best interest of all the parties on the ground to respect the terms of Security Council Resolution 1701 in letter and spirit,” said Force Commander Major-General Alain Pellegrini, referring to the text which ended the fighting in the area and expanded the UN force there. UNIFIL said today that almost all of its battalions have reported air violations taking place in their area of operations. Read more about UN Force Commander concerned at rising number of Israeli air violations