OCHA Situation Report No. 36
Lebanon
1 September 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

SITUATION OVERVIEW

1. The Government of Lebanon (GoL) Higher Relief Council (HRC) reports 
the casualty figures at 1,187 killed and 4,092 injured.

2. Between 35 to 50% of the South territory has no electricity supply 
which is having a significant impact upon the restoration of essential 
and municipal services and is limiting south Lebanon's ability to 
restore economic activity. Many returnees will be discouraged from 
staying and may seek opportunities to re-establish their lives 
elsewhere.

3. As of August 31, the UN Mine Action Coordination Centre (MACC) 
reports that 405 individual cluster bomb strike locations have been 
identified. Given that areas of lower priority have yet to be visited 
and investigated, as well as a number of villages due to the presence of 
IDF troops, it is estimated the total number of strikes locations may 
ultimately be as many as 500.

4. The MACC reports that casualties from UXOs now stand at 48 injured 
and 13 killed.

5. UNHCR engineers are continuing with the assessments of damaged houses 
in the area around Tyre and have also started with the assessment of 
shelter in the areas of Nabatiyeh and Saida.

6. WHO reports that there is no need for additional medicine to be 
supplied by donors as the supplies in Lebanon are now sufficient.

HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

Humanitarian Hub Update - Tyre

7. The GoL electricity authority, Electricite' du Liban, (ETL) has 14 
teams across Lebanon working to repair damage to the electrical system. 
The main substations in South Lebanon were not damaged during the 
conflict. Repairs of the main power lines and switches are expected to 
be completed in the next week.

8. The next step is to repair distribution of electrical power within 
towns where extensive damage of electrical transformers has occurred. 
For example, in Bent Jbeil only 3 of the 35 transformers are operational 
and only 25 per cent of the damaged transformers are repairable. In 
Khiam, only 4 of its 27 transformers are operational. Until repairs are 
made upwards of 90 per cent of people in the towns will remain without 
electricity.

9. Across South Lebanon the electricity authority estimates that 150 
transformers (250 KVA 1500HT/380/220volts) will need to be replaced. 
Each transformer costs approximately US$6,000, with a total cost of 
approximately US$900,000.

10. Currently only five to 10 suitable transformers are available within 
Lebanon. The production of locally manufactured transformers will take 
at least five months from when orders are placed. If an alternate source 
of transformers is not secured, electricity will not be distributed to a 
large proportion of households in South Lebanon that incurred the most 
damage during hostilities. Currently in Bent Jeail and Khiam Dstricts 85 
to 90 per cent of households have no access to electricity, and across 
South Lebanon 35 to 40 per cent of households are without electricity at 
least for the medium term.

11. A second consideration regarding restoration of electricity is that 
much of the repair work is stop-gap. For example, in repairing the main 
line, approximately 15 kilometres, between Tyre and Naquora, upwards of 
300 individual breaks have been rejoined in a temporary measure. This 
leaves the line very vulnerable, particularly with the onset of winter. 
Concern also exists regarding wiring with some of the repairs using 
substandard aluminum wire rather that copper, as copper wire is in short 
supply.

12. A significant concern exists among electricity workers about a high 
concentration of UXO that has been cleared from roads and now lies 
beside the roadway and under the route of the power lines. The Lebanese 
Army is working in close collaboration with the electricity authority to 
identify and destroy such unexploded ordnance, however in areas within 
10 kilometres of the Blue Line they can not operate due to continued IDF 
presence. OCHA Tyre is establishing coordination between MACC - Tyre and 
the electricity authority to help clear routes for electricity workers.

13. Currently 14 villages are without power because the IDF has denied 
access to a damaged switch near Aalma and 300 metres of damaged line 
near Chamma. The OCHA CMCoord Officer in UNIFIL HQ is currently 
addressing this issue.

14. The restoration of sufficient water supplies depends upon 
electricity to power pumps that supplement the community's water supply. 
Currently the three main regional water pumping stations - at Ras el 
Ain, Taibe and Siddiqine -- are operational and once water pipes are 
repaired communities across South Lebanon will receive water to 
community water reservoirs. However, the main supply is insufficient and 
needs to supplemented. Communities with no electricity to pump 
supplementary water from local wells will therefore have a water 
deficit.


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