Media Advisory - Lebanon: The Challenges Posed by Landmines and Unexploded Ordnance in the Aftermath of War

Armed forces from several states including Israel, Syria, the United States, and Lebanon itself, in 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.

This event presents a number of informed panellists, including some of whom are recently returned from Lebanon, who will address questions on the humanitarian impact of the unexploded ordnance left behind and how to facilitate the safe return of Lebanese civilians to their newly weapon-affected communities.

What:Lebanon - The Challenges Posed by Landmines and Unexploded Ordnance in the Aftermath of War. An event hosted by the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) and the Cluster Munitions Coalition (CMC) at the Seventh Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty

When:Thursday, 21 September 2006, 08:30-10:00

Where: Room XXIII, E Building, Palais des Nations

Who:

· Ms. Habbouba Aoun, Coordinator of the LebanonLandmineResourceCenter and Co-Chair of ICBL Sub-Working Group on Mine Risk Education ( via telephone from Beirut)

· Ms. Katleen Maes, Landmine Monitor Victim Assistance Thematic Coordinator

· Mr. Lou McGrath, Executive Director, Mines Advisory Group (MAG)

· Mr. Thomas Nash, Cluster Munition Coalition Coordinator

· Mr. Satnam Singh, ICBL Diplomatic Advisor

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For more information on the event or to book interviews, please

contact Nancy Ingram at media@icbl.org or +41 (0)76 222 6968.