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Some countries and
some governmental and non-governmental organizations contributed
to demining efforts in Lebanon under the supervision of the
National Demining Office. After the Israeli withdrawal from
south Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates supported demining
operations from the liberated areas in the south in coordination
with the Government of Lebanon, the Lebanese Armed Forces, and
the United Nations, by establishing the Mine Action Coordination
Center - South Lebanon. This center planned, coordinated, and
prioritized activities and supported the removal of mines and
recovered land for utilization. Current demining operators in
Lebanon include:
·
Mine Advisory Group (MAG)
·
Ukranian Battalion working through
the UNIFIL
·
Lebanese Armed Forces Engineering
Regiment
·
National Demining Office
Sampling Team
Coordination with
MACC-SL to prepare files on Area 6 (Nabatieh – Jezzine –
Hasbaya) for implementation once funding is ensured.
The Technical
Survey level 2 is taking place to reduce/limit suspected and
contaminated areas, in preparation for the development of a
general strategic plan after specifying:
- accurately
minefield dimension
- time needed
for clearance
- funding needs
for clearance
Provide training to
the human resources on diving to implement demining activities,
mines and UXO, under water and on the shoreline of Lebanon,
through the support of the United States of America.
The Lebanese Armed
Forces, Engineering Regiment started since 1990 with demining
operations in various contaminated areas. After the Israeli
withdrawal from south Lebanon in May 2000, the landmines
‘planted’ in the area brought out a lot of international
deliberation, and national demand for the need to find necessary
means for its removal to safeguard citizens, especially that
the landmines are spread in large areas within villages and
surrounding areas.
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In the year 2001, the United Arab
Emirates offered a grant of USD 50 million to assist in demining
efforts in south Lebanon in coordination with the United Nations
and the Lebanese Armed Forces. A Coordination Center was
established in Tyre.
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The ‘Operation Emirates
Solidarity’ started in May 2002 and ended in May 2004 where an
estimate of 5 million square meters were cleared, and 58,000
antipersonnel and anti tank mines and 4,192 UXO were removed.
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Due to the political situation
which does not allow for demining of the ‘Blue Line’ Area,
dividing Lebanon from Occupied Palestine, it is estimated that
360,000 mines remain. There are around 20,000 mines in Southern
Lebanon covering Nabatieh, Jezzine, Hasbaya which is known as
Area 6. In addition, there is an average of 50,000 mines in the
rest of the country.
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The Greek non-governmental
organization, IMI, in the period between 2002 and 2004, cleared
311,000 square meters of contaminated land, and removed 1,030
mines and 99 UXO.
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The consultancy group Mines
Advisory Group (MAG), since 2001 cleared mined fields and
suspected areas. Up to April 1, 2005, it cleared an estimate of
263,000 square meters, surveyed 12,400 square meters, and
removed 1,179 mines and 465 UXO.
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The Ukranian Battalion as part of
the United
Nations Interim Force in Lebanon performed operational
clearance since year 2000. Up to April 1, 2005, it cleared
518,077 square meters, and removed 3,115 mines and 1,872 UXO.
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The ASSOBON-SOGELMA company in the
period between 2001 and 2002, cleared 5,477 square meters, and
removed 367 mines and 256 UXO.
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The Lebanese Armed Forces,
Engineering Regiment, has been clearing mines since 1990. Up to
December 31, 2004, it cleared 21,776,881 square meters, and up
to April 1, 2005, it removed 45,474 mines and 80,048 UXO.
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