Conflict in Lebanon

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Updated: 25/01/2007

Conflict in Lebanon: the danger of cluster bombs

The July-August 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict brought massive displacement of civilians within Lebanon and damage to the countries infrastructure. The extensive use of cluster bombs during the conflict has left hundreds of thousands of unexploded cluster munitions, posing a real and persistent danger to civilians returning to their homes.

Since the cease fire on 14 August, hundreds of thousands of refugees have made their way back to the south. The lives of people returning to bombed areas are put in danger by of cluster bombs. Dozens of victims have already been reported, mostly civilians carrying out their daily livelihood activities.

Working in Lebanon since 1992, Handicap International acted quickly with existing Lebanese partners to deal with the aftermath of the recent conflict.

I. SUPPORT OF DISABLED PEOPLE

• Shipment of mobility aids such as wheelchairs and walking frames
• Working with the rehabilitation department of Nabatiye hospital
• Help vulnerable victims benefit from surgery
• Established an information and service network to help empower disabled people
• Established 5 “Disability Focal Points” to provide local services

Following the ceasefire, Handicap International evaluated the specific needs of disabled people, particularly of the 3,400 people injured during the conflict. 

This evaluation confirmed the considerable need for physical rehabilitation and mobility aid. Handicap International has already organised the shipment of mobility aids such as wheelchairs and walking frames and is currently working with the rehabilitation department of the Nabatiye hospital, which cares for a large majority of the people injured during the conflict. These efforts have already brought the shipment of over 100 wheelchairs and the expertise of a Lebanese occupational therapist and a physiotherapist to victims. Moreover, a financial system was set up to allow the most vulnerable victims in Nabatiye hospital to benefit from surgery.

Partnerships have been established with the Lebanese Union for the Physically Disabled (LUPD) to support the distribution system and the aid given to disabled people and those injured during the war.

An information and service network was set up to address the various needs of disabled people, such as accessibility of buildings, appropriate medical care, mobility aids and economic inclusion. It also helps disabled people identify the national and international organisations that provide the medical and social care they need. This initiative was launched in partnership with the LUPD and the Philanthropic Association. Five “Disability Focal Points” opened in the southern suburbs of Beirut and in Saida, Tyr, Nabatiye and in Nabatiye’s hospital.

II. CLUSTER BOMBS

• Hundreds of thousands of cluster munitions left behind by conflict
• Nearly 206 civilians have been injured or killed by cluster munitions since the end of the conflict
• Training, equipping and supporting 3 teams of 15 to clear contaminated areas
• Teams include community liaison officers to help raise community awareness on the dangers of cluster bombs
• Carried out a three week training of approximately 60 Lebanese partners from Tyr and surrounding areas

The use of cluster bombs has been extensive in Lebanon, leaving behind hundreds of thousands of unexploded ordinances which pose a real and constant danger to civilians.

Of the millions of cluster bombs dropped a large proportion of the cluster munitions did not explode on impact, with a manager of the UN estimating the failure rate to be upwards of 50%. According to Human Rights Watch, the threat to civilians is much worse than that noted in Iraq (2003), Afghanistan (2001) and Kosovo (1999), where cluster bombs were also used.

As of 7 January 2007, 206 civilians have already been injured or killed by these weapons since the end of the conflict. 35% of these victims are children.

For three years Handicap International has been championing an international ban on cluster bombs. The conflict in Lebanon is another opportunity to denounce these weapons which do not distinguish between civilians and military targets and which pose a real threat to civilians long after the end of a conflict.

Since 13 November 2006, Handicap International has been training and providing equipment to three teams of Lebanese deminers to assist in the clearing of areas littered by cluster bombs.

Each of the three teams are made up of 15 members, including a technical advisor, a team leader, 10 deminers, a first-aider, a community liaison officer and a driver/interpreter. The clearing operations started in December 2006 and will last 10 months. With the support of the community liaison officers, Handicap International will be able to raise awareness of the threat of cluster munitions to local communities and ensure that the clear-up operations are properly led.

Additionally, five technical advisors recently carried out a three-week training, attended by approximately 60 Lebanese partners from Tyr and the surroundings.

Immediately mobilised around the prevention of accidents caused by unexploded ordnance, Handicap International joined forces with a consortium of 17 Lebanese NGOs working on the subject before the crisis. The organisations active in the field did not request Handicap International’s support in setting up the emergency phase. Handicap International is nevertheless still in contact with these stakeholders and is ready to intervene in a second phase with the aim of setting up a long-term programme in the field of education to prevent cluster bomb and landmine accidents.

Read “Fatal Footprint: The Global Human Impact of Cluster Munitions”, Handicap International’s recent report on cluster bombs

Sign the petition against cluster bombs

III. COORDINATION OF AID

• Tasked with coordinating aid by the Lebanese government
• Set up telephone platform to assist not-for-profit organizations in the area
• Launched an online database of aid services provided in different regions of the country
• Established information portal with data on 103 organizations, 65 international NGOs and 19 international agencies

Handicap International was given the task of coordinating aid by the Lebanese government and international agencies. In partnership with the Lebanese Ministry of Social Services, and supported by the European Commission, Handicap International and its Lebanese partners have: 

• Set up a telephone platform to centralise the needs of not-for-profit organisations and to refer them to national and international organisations that can help
• Created an online database of aid services provided by international NGOs throughout the country and by local NGOs in Beirut and its southern suburbs (www.lebanon-support.org)
• Created an online database of aid services provided by international NGOs throughout the country (www.lebanon-support.org)
• Before the 15 August: collected data regarding displaced people in reception centres of Beirut and its suburbs, Saïda and Mont Liban.

Links have been established with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and UN agencies (World Food Programme, UNICEF, UNDP, UNHCR). Following the truce, the needs and aid services available in south Lebanon were added to the databases.

Currently, the information portal has data on 103 organisations and Lebanese mutual aid committees, 65 international NGOs, 19 international and/or UN agencies as well as the social support centres run by the Ministry of Social Affairs.   

IV. LOGISTICS PLATFORM

• Established distribution platform for livestock and essential supplies
• Distribution of 20 tons of essential supplies in second half of August alone
• Distribution of 1,000 winter kits to vulnerable families

Handicap International’s Lebanese and international partners evaluated the needs of several dozen towns in the south. This led our organisation to set up a distribution platform for livestock and essential supplies around the three main towns in the south (Srifa, Tibnine, Aïta el-Chaab).

Handicap International supervises the distribution to the most vulnerable populations, via the Lebanese NGO consortium Samidoun, of essential supplies provided by, among others, the World Food Programme, working alongside the United Nations Joint Logistics Centre.
During the second half of August, Samidoun was thus able to distribute 20 tons of essential supplies. These efforts continue and have been extended through the second half of September.

Today, this activity is focusing on supporting the most vulnerable families in their preparation for winter, especially those who haven’t rebuilt their houses yet. The operation “1,000 winter kits for 1,000 families in need” has been launched in 98 villages. The kits contain heating and isolating devices.

V. PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT

• Coordinated psychological support activates at 31 Samidoun centres
• Following ceasefire, services transferred to southern regions of Lebanon where need is greatest

Before the truce, Samidoun was running 31 reception centres in schools, churches and mosques in Beirut which were taking in 12,000 displaced people and where Handicap International was coordinating psychological support activities. On the morning of 15 August these centres had no more than 300 people, the vast majority of people having immediately returned home.

The psychological support activity has been transferred to the southern suburbs of Beirut which was heavily affected by the bombing. This activity is currently being extended to south Lebanon.

VI. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Witness accounts: Bruno Rotival was in Lebanon to evaluate the needs of the population

More press releases

• 31/07/2006: Handicap International's activities in Lebanon
• 21/07/2006: Handicap International is concerned about possible use of cluster bombs

External resources

• Mine Action Coordination Centre of Southern Lebanon: www.maccsl.org