The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has published today a report on the environmental consequences of the Lebanese war in July 2006. This report highlights three steps that have to be made in the country: handling the rubble caused by the bombings, repairing the hydraulic infrastructure, and cleaning the undermined agricultural grounds.

According to a UNEP press release, “most of bombed industries, among them Jiyeh electrical centre in south Beirut, caused during their explosion the propagation of lots of toxic materials”. The PNEU estimates that an urgent action is necessary to stop the propagation of the chemical substances that threat the sanitary infrastructure. Some of the infrastructures and the management system of worn waters were destroyed during the war and their rehabilitation would be a considerable challenge for Lebanon. However, and always according to the report “cleaning and managing significant quantities of war debris, especially ones related to clinics and hospitals, constitute a much bigger environmental challenge.

The report also emphasizes on the presence of unexploded fragmentation bombs, especially in the south of the country. Such munitions made a lot of agricultural land zones of south Lebanon impracticable for farmers.

The material damages are also very important. More than 1000 bridges were destroyed and more than 3000 accommodation units were ruined or damaged. The Beirut airport, a lot of harbours, and a lot of roads were bombed too.

The only « good news » in the report is that the marine environment pollution was subject to a certain control. The contamination levels do not exceed that of this Mediterranean region.

The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah erupted on the 12th of July and ended on the 14th of August with a ceasefire. The war lasted 34 days, and left 1200 dead and 4400 injured and made more than 900000 Lebanese move, being forced to run away of their homes.