The Government of Lebanon (GoL) Higher Relief Council (HRC) reports the casualty figures at 1,187 killed and 4,092 injured. Between 35 to 50% of the South territory has no electricity supply which is having a significant impact upon the restoration of essential and municipal services and is limiting south Lebanon’s ability to restore economic activity. Many returnees will be discouraged from staying and may seek opportunities to re-establish their lives elsewhere. As of August 31, the UN Mine Action Coordination Centre (MACC) reports that 405 individual cluster bomb strike locations have been identified. Read more about OCHA: 35-50% of South Lebanon without electricity supply
Amnesty International today called on Israel to immediately provide maps of the areas of Lebanon into which it fired cluster bombs during the recent conflict to enable their clearance and prevent further civilian casualties. Publishing new accounts from the victims of unexploded cluster bombs, the organization also called on Israel to cooperate in a full and impartial investigation into their use of such munitions during the recent conflict. The calls followed a report from the United Nations that 90 percent of Israeli cluster bomb strikes occurred in the last 72 hours of the conflict when a ceasefire was in sight. Read more about Israel must disclose details of cluster bomb attacks and accept a full investigation
The Lebanese economy could go into recession in 2006 because of the damage done by the recent Israeli offensive and its ongoing air and naval blockade of the country, Lebanon’s Finance Minister Jihad Azour has warned. Azour added, however, that there could be a quick economic turn-around should current circumstances improve. “Yes, there is a risk of negative growth but there is also a chance of a recovery in growth if the blockade is lifted quickly,” he said. However, hopes for an immediate lifting of the blockade were dashed on Wednesday when Israel’s Prime Minister Ehud Olmert rebuffed United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan’s calls for an end to what he described as a “humiliating” blockade. Read more about Economic recession looms
Sitting on the pavement by a shattered building that once housed a government school near the main square in Bint Jbeil, 100 km south of Beirut, eight-year-old Fatme talked about school life prior to the war. “I love drawing, and maths. They are my favourite subjects,” she said. “Now, both my brother’s school and mine have been destroyed. We don’t know if we’ll be able to go to school this year. If we don’t, I’ll get bored and sad.” With an estimated pre-war population of 30,000 people, Bint Jbeil witnessed some of the heaviest bombing by Israel in addition to extensive ground battles with the armed wing of Hezbollah, a Lebanese political party. Read more about Schools will re-open three weeks late, says government
The top United Nations aid official today criticized Israel’s heavy use of cluster bombs in the last three days of the war with Hizbollah, describing their use as “immoral” and warning that up to 100,000 deadly bomblets still lie unexploded across vast areas of southern Lebanon where they are maiming and killing people every day. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Jan Egeland also said that around a quarter of a million Lebanese returnees who fled their homes during the month of fighting were unable to return because of the devastation or for fear of injury caused by these and other unexploded ordnance. Read more about Israel's immoral use of cluster bombs in Lebanon poses major threat
According to the United Nations Mine Action Coordination Cell (UNMACC) on-the-ground assessments, most the Israeli bombing assaults occurred during the last 72 hours of the conflict, during which some 90 per cent of all cluster-bomb strikes occurred. Up to 100,000 unexploded cluster bomblets remain in south Lebanon and must be defused and destroyed. The Government of Lebanon (GoL) Higher Relief Council (HRC) reports the casualty figures at 1,187 killed and 4,080 injured. As of 29 August, 381 cluster bomb strike locations have been identified and UNMACC teams have destroyed 2,606 sub munitions. Read more about OCHA: 100,000 unexploded cluster bomblets in south Lebanon
The Government of Lebanon (GoL) Higher Relief Council (HRC) reports the casualty figures at 1,187 killed and 4,061 injured. Most of the recent casualties have been caused by UXOs. As of 28 August, 359 individual cluster bomb strike locations have been confirmed and recorded. Given that areas of lower priority and a number of villages with IDF presence nearby have yet to be visited, it is estimated the total number of strikes could be in excess of 400. Un-exploded bombs (UXB) dropped by aircraft and ranging from 500lb to 2000lb, continue to be located. Many large, aircraft bombs lie un-exploded in people’s houses and gardens. Read more about OCHA: 359 individual cluster bomb strike locations recorded
Jamila Mehanna joined the rush back to her village in south Lebanon the moment the shooting stopped. Two weeks later she is living with other displaced Lebanese in a public building in Sidon, not sure when she will again be in her own house. “After the ceasefire came into effect, I went immediately with my kids to check out the house. I found the Israeli tanks at the outskirts of the village and so I turned around. I prefer to wait for the Lebanese army to take control before I go home,” she said. Amid the emphasis on getting daily convoys of UNHCR aid into battered villages and the return of most Lebanese to their homes, victims of the war like Jamila fear they could be forgotten by the refugee agency and other organisations. Read more about Lebanese who cannot return home fear being forgotten
The Government of Lebanon’s (GOL) Higher Relief Council (HRC) reports to date that 1,187 Lebanese have been killed and approximately 4,060 injured. Unexploded ordnances, particularly cluster munitions, remains the most urgent threat to the beneficiaries and humanitarian workers. 12 people have been killed and 51 wounded by UXO and cluster bombs since 14 August. The Mine Action Coordination Centre has thus far 249 strike locations, a figure which is expected to rise. Demining activities are ongoing by the Lebanese army in Nabatieh, clearing residential areas such as Zawtar and by UNMACC in Yohmor, Smayieh, Ras Al Ain, Tebnine and Aita Al Jabal in South Lebanon. Read more about OCHA: Unexploded ordnances the most urgent threat
Fifteen-year-old Ali Al-Hady begs his father to let him into his room, which was hit by four Israeli missiles during the 34-day conflict between Hezbollah and Israel. His father says it’s just too dangerous. “My father wouldn’t let me inside my bedroom because he suspected some cluster bombs were still under the rubble after he found an unexploded missile in the backyard and cluster bombs in our neighbour’s garden,” Ali told IRIN. He wanted to salvage some of his books and notes, left behind when he and his family fled their home in Kfarkila, 90km south of Beirut and adjacent to the Israel-Lebanon border. They went 20km north-east to Hasbaya, where they stayed with relatives. Read more about At home with unexploded bombs
