OCHA Situation Report No. 38
Lebanon
20 September 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

KEY DEVELOPMENTS

UN Secretary-General issues 30 Day Report on Security Council Resolution 
1701

UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Lebanon holds final press conference with 
focus on the cruel legacy of cluster bomb contamination

UN Humanitarian Coordinator issues Interim Report on the Humanitarian 
Response in Lebanon

World Food Programme releases Rapid Food Security Assessment on Lebanon


SITUATION OVERVIEW

UN Secretary-General's Report on 1701

1. On 13 September, Secretary-General Kofi Annan issued his one-month 
report on the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. He 
said that although violations to the cease-fire had occurred they were 
not "of an offensive and hostile character", and that Israel and 
Hizbullah have "largely complied" with the cessation of hostilities 
agreement. As to Israel's continued military presence in Lebanon, Mr. 
Annan said he had been assured that Israel would withdraw all its troops 
"by the end of the month" or once 5,000 UNIFIL troops are present in 
Lebanon. The UN Secretary-General addressed the issue of disarming 
Hizbullah and Palestinian factions in Lebanon, saying, "I remain 
convinced that the disarming of Hizbullah and other militia should take 
place through a political process that will lead to the full restoration 
of the authority of the Lebanese government so that there will be no 
weapons or authority other than its own? I expect the government of 
Lebanon will define such a political process".

UN Humanitarian Coordinator Addresses Press

2. The Humanitarian Coordinator (HC) in Lebanon, David Shearer, held a 
final press conference on 19 September that focused on the legacy of 
unexploded cluster bomb sub-munitions throughout south Lebanon and their 
social and economic impact. He praised the Lebanese people, saying that 
from his personal experience in 11 humanitarian emergencies, he had 
never seen such "a remarkable operation" as in Lebanon in which a 
quarter of the population fled during the conflict and then returned a 
few weeks later with no hunger and no outbreak of disease. He also 
praised as "most amazing" the national effort to clean up the rubble and 
get ready for the reconstruction process that is becoming increasingly 
visible throughout the south.

3. The HC said he felt "the humanitarian component of our work is 
winding-up" and added that during and post-conflict, the UN managed to 
deliver relief aid, including government and NGO assistance, to affected 
areas on UN convoys even under bombardment.

4. The HC called Israel's dropping of 90% of its cluster sub-munitions 
during the last three days before the cessation of hostilities 
"outrageous and unnecessary". He added, that while the UN is helping 
Lebanon in clearing the threat of Unexploded Ordinance (UXOs) and 
cluster sub-munitions, out of an estimated 350,000 cluster bombs, "we 
have only managed to clear 17,000". "This gives an idea of how long the 
clearance operation might take."



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