An Update on the Environmental Crises in Lebanon

After the UN security council resolution 1701 produced a much-needed ceasefire to halt the Israeli aggression against Lebanon, it was clear to many people that the magnitude of the environmental crises caused by the big oil spill at the Lebanese coast caused by the Israeli bombardement to oil storage tanks in Beirut airport is a matter of extreme urgency. Many international organizations are currently working to assist Lebanon with the participation of some regional networks. Here is an update on the situation.

1- During the course of the conflict the Associated Press prepared a feature from Lebanon describing the main impacts of the environmental disasters on the Lebanese marine ecosystem and coastal zone. The report can be raed here

2- The United Nations Environmental programme (UNEP) had a quick response. On 17 August a high level meeting was convened by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Athens, Greece, to finalize an International Assistance Action Plan. The Euro 50 Million Anti-Pollution Action Plan will assist the authorities in Lebanon with the clean up of coastal oil pollution and is geared towards preventing any damage to neighbouring countries. You can monitor UNEP's response from this link

3- The World Conservation Union (IUCN) regional office for West, Central Asia and North Africa (WESCANA) located in Amman has mobilized a team of experts to assess the problem and design a rapid response plan.

4- The UN has revealed that the Lebanese oil spill disaster can rival that of Exxon which is one of the most devastating oil spill cases in the history. Read here

One thing that we hope Lebanon and other international organizations will do is to ask Israel for compensations over the damages caused by its agression, and make the State of Israel pay for its devastating actions. In many cases, the last one being in 1991 the environmental damage caused by war was being assessed and paid by the agressive part. In this case Israel should pay the price.