OCHA Situation Report No. 41
Lebanon
11 October 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

KEY DEVELOPMENTS

- UNIFIL sets rules of engagement in the light of Security Council
Resolution 1701

- IRIN to produce documentary film on social and economic impact of
unexploded cluster sub-munitions and other UXOs

- Nearly one thousand personnel to be involved in UXO clearance
operation by end of October

- Prime Minister announces the mechanisms of compensation for the
recovery phase.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

FAO Assessment

1. A five-person FAO team is currently undertaking a damage and early
recovery assessment mission in Lebanon looking at the agricultural,
livestock, fisheries and forestry sectors. The mission will include an
assessment of the economic and social impact of the conflict.

2. The FAO mission is being undertaken at the request of the Ministry of
Agriculture. The Ministry is providing FAO's specialists Lebanese
counterparts to work with them on the assessment. Field work for the
assessment is expected to be concluded by 13 October, with the sectoral
reports, which will focus on damage and short-term needs, including
specific project proposals, written by 27 October.

The FAO reports will be made public by early November in time for the
Beirut Conference which currently is expected to be held in late
November or early December.

UNIFIL rules of engagement

3. United Nations peacekeepers in Lebanon have the authority to use
force against hostile activity of any kind, whether in self-defence, to
ensure their area of operations is not used for hostile activities or to
resist attempts by force to prevent them from discharging their duties,
according to recently published guidelines. - Should the situation
present any risk of resumption of hostile activities, UNIFIL rules of
engagement allow UN forces to respond as required, the UN Interim
Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said in a statement, laying out the terms of
the Security Council mandate that established it in August to oversee
the cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hizbullah.

4. UNIFIL commanders have sufficient authority to act forcefully when
confronted with hostile activity of any kind, the statement added,
noting that the force so far had 5,200 out of a maximum of 15,000
permitted under Security Council resolution 1701.

Greenpeace issues report on pollution

5. Half the Lebanese population of nearly two million people could
face health risks from toxic material released by Israeli bombing during
the recent conflict. This is according to the environmental group,
Greenpeace, in a report it released from its flagship, the Rainbow
Warrior in Beirut Port on 05 October. Chemical traces and dust from
buildings that were destroyed have heavily contaminated the air and
land, the environmental group said. In addition, bombed-out factories
have released chemicals that could potentially affect 2 million
inhabitants in the country.

UN human rights report issued in Geneva 2/10/06

6. The report of the Special Rapporteurs of the Human Rights Council on
their mission to Lebanon and Israel from 7 to 14 September, found that
serious violations of both human rights and humanitarian law were
committed by Israel. It also found that Hezbollah violated the
applicable principles of humanitarian law, by targeting the civilian
population in northern Israel. The report addressed a number of
recommendations to, among others, the Government of Israel and to the
Government of Lebanon.

7. In Beirut, Member of Parliament Ghassan Mokheiber, the head of its
Human Rights Committee, criticised, in the local Lebanon press, the
report compiled by a number of UN experts, dealing with Israeli
violations of international law during its offensive on Lebanon.
Mokheiber, who spoke at the general meeting of the UN Human Rights
Council held in Geneva, said that the report was "biased and lacked in
substance." Mokheiber added that the report does not hold Israel
responsible for any of the alleged infractions of international law,
even those that could be taken for war crimes, such as assaults on
civilians and particularly assaults on protected civilians.

8. The Israeli Government also criticised the report saying the report
makes no reference to the responsibility of Lebanon for acts of
hostility prepared and perpetrated within its territory. They also
complained that the report treated Hezbollah as a legitimate actor
rather than what they see as terrorist organisation.

Commission of Inquiry completes mission

9. The three members of the Commission of Inquiry on Lebanon, JoA=A3o
Clemente Baena Soares (Brazil), Mohamed Chande Othman (Tanzania) and
Stelios Perrakis (Greece) concluded their mission in Lebanon on 7
October, and returned to Geneva. The Commission is currently preparing
its report to the Human Rights Council.

10. The Commission was able to collect a considerable amount of data
during the visit as well as a number of witness statements. The
Commission will continue to gather further information relevant to its
mandate.

11. The Commission of Inquiry on Lebanon is mandated by the Human Rights
Council to investigate the systematic targeting and killing of civilians
by Israel in Lebanon; examine the types of weapons used by Israel and
their conformity with international law; and assess the extent and
impact of Israeli attacks on human life, property, critical
infrastructure and the environment.

Khiam Centre calls for tribunal on war crimes

12. The head of the Khiam Rehabilitation Centre for the Victims of
Israeli Torture (KRC) urged the UN Human Rights Council on Thursday to
create a tribunal to try Israeli leaders for war crimes and crimes
against humanity during the recent war on Lebanon. Israel should
compensate the Lebanese for the losses inflicted during the July
offensive, Mohammad Safa said, speaking during the council's second
session in Geneva. The Khiam Centre is located on the site of the
infamous Khiam prison where Lebanese were detained and tortured during
the occupation.

IRIN in Lebanon

13. The Regional Director of the Integrated Regional
Information Network (IRIN), Abdel Rahamn Ghandourm, completed a 10-day
mission to Lebanon to assess the humanitarian and post-conflict
situation in the country, search for story ideas, meet with key partners
and conduct political analysis. An IRIN film team arrived over the
weekend to produce a 15-to-20 minute documentary on cluster
sub-munitions and other UXOs in the country, and clearance of unexploded
ordnance. IRIN has several writers in Lebanon. Its website is:
www.irinnews.org

Lessons Learned Exercise

14. A half-day After Action Review was held 09 October, for
members of the Inter Agency Standing Committee (IASC) in Lebanon and
facilitated by OCHA. The lessons learned workshop provides UN
agencies and NGOs an opportunity to explore: What went well and why;
what can be done to improve performance, and what recommendations are
needed for future missions? A final report, reflecting feedback from
them will be ready by the middle of October. The office of the UN
Resident Coordinator will seek separate feedback on lessons learned and
the IASC response to the Lebanon crisis from the government and donors.


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