Discussion Panel: Lebanon - The Challenges Posed to Mine Action by Landmines and UXO in the Aftermath of the War

The panel featured a number of informed panellists - many of whom recently returned from field missions to Lebanon. Participating via telephone from southern Lebanon was Ms. Habbouba Aoun, Coordinator of the Landmine Resource Centre in Beirut currently involved in organizing emergency mine risk education seminars.

In addition to the recent attacks, armed forces from several states including Israel, Syria, the United States, and Lebanon itself, in

Speakers during Panel Discussion on Mine Action in Lebanon at 7MSP.

addition to numerous non-state armed groups, have extensively used explosive ordnance and landmines at various times from the beginning of the civil war in 1975 until the end of the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon in 2000.

The discussion focused on how the recent war in Lebanon, and in particular the widespread of cluster munitions, has exacerbated a longstanding problem of mines and unexploded weapons in the country.

The discussion panel was chaired by Ms. Simona Beltrami, Advocacy Director of the ICBL and included speeches by Ambassador Satnam Singh, ICBL Diplomatic Advisor, Ms. Katleen Maes of Handicap International Belgium, Mr. Sean Sutton and Mr. John Wallace of Mines Advisory Group (MAG), and Mr. Thomas Nash, Coordinator for the CMC.

Ambassador Singh visited Lebanon in June 2006, only a few weeks before the conflict began. During this visit, he met with Lebanese government officials. Ambassador Singh noted that, at the time, none of his interlocutors in Lebanon cited the necessity of landmines for security purposes. He left Beirut with guarded optimism that Lebanon had taken a step forward in the process of joining the Mine Ban Treaty.

Ms. Habbouba Aoun, from the Lebanon Landmines Resource Center and Co-Chair of the ICBL Sub-Working Group on Mine Risk Education, mentioned that she was currently conducting a training workshop for employees working in an orange grove to alert them of the dangers of unexploded submunitions. She also indicated that, as a direct consequence of the war many agricultural crops, a primary source of income for many Lebanese, had been completely lost for this year and most probably for the year to come.

The discussion continued with a short statement by Ms. Katleen Maes of Handicap International Belgium. She has just recently returned from a visit to southern Lebanon. Ms. Mayes recounted the stories of particular victims of landmines and unexploded munitions – both during this conflict and past ones. She stressed that while there are many new victims, it is also crucial to remember the persons injured previously, from the longstanding mine problem in the country.

Mr. Sean Sutton, from Mines Advisory Group (MAG), presented photographs taken immediately following the ceasefire. He mentioned that MAG team in Lebanon found on average 30 sub-munitions immediately surrounding people’s homes. Mr. John Wallace, also of MAG, stated that MAG had also sent their most experienced staff members from Iraq traveled to Lebanon to train new deminers and mine risk educators.

The final speaker was Mr. Thomas Nash of CMC, who also presented photographs of his recent visit to Lebanon. He mentioned that while most civilians did manage to leave southern Lebanon during the conflict, many stayed behind for various reasons. Many civilians did not have access to transportation or roads were too damaged for travel. The old and infirm were not able to escape and had to wait out the conflict in their homes for thirty-four days. Others, however, refused to abandon their homes, in fear of losing them. Mr. Nash also stressed the lost of agricultural income as harvesting had been greatly impeded by the conflict and the remaining cluster munitions in the fields.

Ms. Beltrami, the chair of the event, concluded by remarking that the presentations were a stark reminder of the work that remains to be done in Lebanon and in all mine-affected countries.