Lebanon
Problem statement
Decades of armed conflict in Lebanon have left behind a legacy of landmines, cluster munitions and other explosive remnants of war (ERW) scattered throughout the entire country. The presence of landmines, cluster munitions and other ERW in Lebanon has had a socioeconomic impact, which goes beyond the obvious danger to people’s lives and livelihoods, since it hinders development of contaminated areas and denies access to agricultural land that is one of the primary sources of income.
The pressure on land, infrastructure and services in Lebanon has been even higher in recent years due to continuous influx of refugees from Syria. Syrian refugee children in particular have experienced tremendous atrocities and it is of utmost importance to provide these children with psychosocial support and assistance, so they will be able to cope with pressures and traumas they are experiencing on daily basis.
What we do
Clearance of Cluster Munitions and other ERW
ITF has supported the clearance of cluster munitions and other ERW in Southern Lebanon since 2009. Until end of August 2015, almost 1.3 square kilometres of land were cleared with 1,037 dangerous items found and destroyed. Cleared land was handed over to local communities for further productive use. As the pressure on land is high and rising due to the influx of Syrian refugees, clearance and risk education activities have an even greater socio-economic and life-saving value for the growing population of Lebanon.
Victim Assistance
ITF has enabled physical rehabilitation of 20 mine/ERW victims and supported coordination between the members of National Victim Assistance Steering Committee.
Capacity Building
In 2015, ITF enhanced national capacities by training and providing 5 mine detection dogs to Lebanon Mine Action Centre (LMAC). The dogs are used in quality control executed by LMAC over the works of international and national NGOs.
For more information on ITF’s past activities in Lebanon, we welcome you to consult our Annual Reports, while for the plans in the forthcoming year please consider our Portfolio of Projects.