MAG teams in Lebanon have launched an emergency response to address new contamination arising from two months of intensive aerial bombardments and more than a year of sustained lower level conflict in the south of the country.
Just two weeks after a ceasefire brought a halt to the conflict, MAG – working in partnership with the Lebanon Mine Action Centre (LMAC) – rapidly deployed teams to conduct non-technical survey, assess the scale of contamination and identify its impact on communities.
Hazardous areas have also been marked to reduce the risk of accidents, while explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) teams are working alongside the LMAC to find and make safe aerial munitions that have failed to explode. To date, Lebanese authorities have dealt with over 2,300 unexploded items.
In Nabatieh, a heavily affected town in southern Lebanon, MAG’s community liaison teams are providing in-person risk education sessions to help residents resume their lives safely. An ongoing campaign is also continuing to reach communities through digital platforms and traditional methods such as leaflets and billboards.
The emergency response follows extensive preparations, including refresher training, extended explosive ordnance disposal training and specialised courses on handling threats such as white phosphorus munitions.
The immediate aftermath of conflict is often the most dangerous time. In 2006, about 230 casualties caused by unexploded ordnance occurred within two weeks of the ceasefire. Since the November 24 ceasefire this year, only one casualty has been recorded – a reduction attributed to effective risk education and community outreach, as well as the different nature of the contamination.
MAG country director Sylvain Leforte said: “Our emergency response to the widespread destruction has only been made possible thanks to the support of donors and our partners in the LMAC. We have spent more than a year preparing for this response, ensuring our teams are equipped with the right knowledge and training.
“We also invested heavily in risk education while the conflict was ongoing so that communities returning home at the point of the ceasefire would be aware of the risks they face.”
Ali Shuaib, MAG Community Liaison Manager, said: “The very first days of any response are critical as we ensure returning families stay safe and we gather the necessary data and information about the extent and nature of the contamination so we can prioritise our efforts.”
MAG deminers have also returned to Ain Majdalain village in Jezzine district to resume clearance operations on agricultural land contaminated by cluster munitions from Lebanon’s civil war in the 1980s. So far, over a dozen explosive items have been safely removed, with clearance expected to conclude within two to three months. This will restore access to vine-growing terraces, essential to the local economy.
Sara Abozaid, a MAG team leader, stated: “We were all very keen to resume operations. It is important to address both long-standing contamination and the recent risks caused by the latest conflict.”
Her colleague, Hassan Saade, a deminer with over 20 years of experience, added: “This land has been cultivated for generations. Clearing it is vital for the local economy.”
MAG remains committed to our ongoing activities, supporting Lebanon’s recovery and ensuring the safety of its communities.
Find out more about our work in Lebanon.
