Consolidated Situation Report - 11 - 16th September 2006

Content

CONTENTS

1.    SECURITY
2.    AIR OPERATIONS
3.    SEA
4.    BORDER CROSSING AND CUSTOMS
5.    INFRASTRUCTURE
6.    LOGISTICS COORDINATION
7.    LOGISTICS (STOCKS)
8.    MAPPING
9.    FUEL
10.    OTHER

1.    SECURITY

• 4,500 UNIFIL ground troops are now present in Lebanon.
• 650 of the expected 1,000 Spanish troops arrived on 15/9/06 in Tyre. 
• A further 200 French troops arrived on 14/9/06.
• It is hoped that the UNIFIL deployment will reach 5,000 within the coming week.
• The IDF (Israeli Defence Forces) have pulled out of the zones of Al Qusayr, Al Qantarah, At Tayyabah, Markaba, Hula, Naqoura and Ayta ash Shab in southern Lebanon. 
• UNIFIL's Indian battalion has set up checkpoints and is patrolling the area to confirm the IDF withdrawal. The battalion will then coordinate the deployment of the LAF (Lebanese Armed Forces) into the area. Israel's withdrawal. is expected to be completed by the end of next week and the LAF will then be able to fully deploy along the blue line. 
• 492 individual cluster bomb strike locations have been confirmed and recorded as of 15/09/06. The majority of these are in built up areas and plantations.
• Based on Israeli media reports that 1,800 MLRS rocket systems and 160,000 artillery projectiles were fired during the war, MACC SL estimates that up to one million unexploded cluster munitions may exist on the ground. These figures do not include an as yet undetermined number of aerial delivered cluster bombs.
• Reconnaissance to date indicates that the most northern cluster bomb strike location is near the village of Meidoun about 12 km north of Marjayoun.
• Unexploded bombs (UXB) ranging from 500lb to 2,000lb continue to be found in houses and gardens.
• As of 12/09/06, 14 have died and 79 been injured by unexploded ordnance since the ceasefire. All deaths and all but five injuries are attributable to cluster bombs.
• As of 15/9/06, UN, NGO, UNIFIL and LAF teams have destroyed 17,000 individual cluster submunitions.
• Additional teams will soon be added to reach a total of 22 which will now include support from the UAE. Most routes have now been cleared, however efforts have not yet been expanded to road verges and farmland. Clearance efforts are expected to last another 12 to 15 months.
  (Source of all UXO information: MACC SL, 13/09/06)
• The UNJLC Hazard to Movement map series with updated MACC SL information can be found at www.unjlc.org/lebanon/maps.

2.  AIR OPERATIONS

• The UNHAS-tasked German Air Force C160 rotations from Cyprus have been extended to bring 52 MT of sodium bicarbonate powder and liquid solution for WHO into Beirut.
• The cargo is delicate which limits each load, therefore flights for this cargo are expected to run through September 20th.
• Air traffic is quickly returning to pre-conflict levels, and some congestion at the airport is expected as cargo previously awaiting transport now enters the country.
• Details of damages and repairs to Beirut International Airport can be found at www.unjlc.org/lebanon.

3.    SEA

• With the lifting of the sea blockade, commercial vessels are returning carrying wheat, vehicles and raw products for manufacturing. The export of Lebanese products is also resuming.

4.  BORDER CROSSING AND CUSTOMS

• For customs clearance, port handling and transport information please see www.unjlc.org/lebanon.

5.  INFRASTRUCTURE (Roads, Bridges, Rail, Ports, Airports, Warehouse)

• The Lebanese Ministry of Transport and Public Works has stated that it can provide or contract the provision of concrete, base coarse and asphalt for any bridge projects undertaken.
• The French Army has completed the construction of the 80m-long Akra steel bridge in Akar. The bridge is ready for traffic today (16/09/06) for vehicles of under 50 MT. (source: High Relief Commission). 
• The French, UK, Swiss and Russians are donating temporary bridges to alleviate transport problems due to bomb-damaged bridges. However, only the French have a full military logistics team for installation.
• The Ministry of Transport and Public Works advises that any donated Bailey Bridge kits must be fully supported. This includes the provision of specialised parts, fabrication and installation. The Ministry is not able to contract support for these projects.
• UNOPS as well as USAID and other international donors have signed up alongside local donors to underwrite the rebuilding of permanent bridges. Full details are available at www.unjlc.org/lebanon. 
• Rubble clearance is ongoing in the southern suburb of Beirut. The remaining debris resulting from the destruction of some 300 buildings are expected to be cleared within two weeks.
• Rubble is being removed from around 100 towns and villages in south Lebanon, but the presence of unexploded munitions is slowing down the clearing process. (Source: High Relief Commission)

6.    LOGISTICS COORDINATION

• Over 60 trucks are currently available for Logistics Cluster common cargo transport from Beirut and an additional four are operating out of Tyre. Users can request transport through the usual Cargo Movement Request (CMR) procedure.
• Logistics Cluster meetings in Beirut are to be held once a week on Tuesdays at 9:00 a.m instead of twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays. 

7.    LOGISTICS (STOCKS)

• On September 11th, OCHA conducted assessments in Chamaa, Chihine, Tair Harfa and Majdel Zoun in Tyre district. The team reported that the major concerns in the villages are the lack of electricity and the need for water tanks.
• CHF International has started delivering water pipelines to Tyre, Nabatiyeh, Al Ghandouriyeh, Ac-Chehabiyeh, Berta and Jernaya. Total worth $250,000 US.
• UNICEF has informed that their deliveries of bottled and tankered water for drinking and hygiene proposes are likely to remain a necessary element of assistance for at least another 1 to 2 months.
• On September 12th, the United States Government donated 25,000 MT of US wheat to the GoL (Government of Lebanon).
• Over the first week of September, Caritas distributed 1,200 food parcels along with hygiene kits (each sufficient to last a family of five for one month) to the villages of Rashaya Al Foukhar, Abu Kamha, Borj el Molouk, Kawkaba, Balat, Debine and Ibl Es Saki.
• On September 15th and 16th, CRS (Catholic Relief Services) is delivering 7,500 family hygiene kits, 2,500 baby hygiene kits, 3,000 family food kits, 2,000 baby food kits, 40,848 liters of water and 60,3 MT of food commodities to be distributed in Saida and Marjeyoun districts.
• Next week Premiere Urgence is planning the distribution of aid to 2,800 families in the Tyre district using a voucher system through local NGOs and grocery stores. The aid kit will contain food items to last one month. The project is financed by ECHO
• For daily convoy movements please see www.unjlc.org/lebanon.

8.  MAPPING

• UNJLC food and non food item (NFI) distribution maps have been updated as of 12/9/06.
• Hazard to Movement maps have been updated as of 14/09/06 with MACC SL and bridge status data.
• All UNJLC maps are available for download at  www.unjlc.org/lebanon, and in hard copy at UNJLC's Beirut office (floor 7, Movenpick Hotel) and at the HIC office in Tyre.

9.  FUEL

• Current fuel prices are the following:

10.  OTHER

• According to the Lebanese High Relief Commission (HRC), estimated total losses since the beginning of the conflict have reached 10 billion USD to date, and the unemployment rate has reached an approximate figure of 25%.
• UXO spread over farmland is preventing farming activities from starting up again, which is expected to hamper early recovery. 70% of south Lebanon's economy is dependent on local agriculture.
• For reasons of local finance, import and export activity is not expected to return to normal for another 3 to 4 months. (Source: OCHA)
• Britain has pledged more than 40 million pounds (US$75 million) to the rebuilding of Lebanon and promised support for the LAF.