OCHA Situation Report No. 15
Lebanon
8 August 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

KEY DEVELOPMENTS
HC Calls for IDF to End Attacks

The UN Humanitarian Coordinator (HC) called for an end to attacks in 
Lebanon on civilian infrastructure and to actions slowing distribution 
of humanitarian supplies to thousands of displaced. The HC also 
underlined that the targeting of civilians and essential social 
infrastructure violates International Law.

IDF Attacks Bridge, Cutting Road Access to Tyre

This morning s bombing of the temporary bridge over the Litani River has 
effectively cut off road communication between Tyre, Saida (Sidon) and 
Beirut. The original bridge had been destroyed by IDF strikes earlier in 
the conflict. UNIFIL is working to install another provisional bridge 
for humanitarian purposes.

With No Fuel, Some Hospitals May Close by Friday

The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health estimates that around 60% of the 
hospitals will cease to function by the end of the week if the fuel 
shortage continues. WFP is shipping urgently needed diesel via Limassol 
though it is unlikely to arrive before 14 August. Half will be available 
for key infrastructure, while the other 200mt will permit dispatch of 
relief convoys.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

1. The Government of Lebanon s (GoL) Higher Relief Committee (HRC) 
reports that as of 7 August, 958 people have been killed and some 3,370 
people have been injured, since the conflict began 27 days ago. Of the 
estimated 916,000 displaced Lebanese civilians, around 700,000 are 
located within Lebanon, while the rest are now in Syria and other 
countries. Convoys continue to arrive in Saida (Sidon), Beirut, and 
elsewhere in the North, from the Bekaa Valley and southern areas.

2. The HRC estimates that some 6,800 private homes/apartments, 630 
roads, over 70 bridges and nearly 30 vital installations such as 
airport, ports, water treatment plants and power stations have been 
badly damaged or destroyed.

3. Shortages of medical supplies, such as for chronic diseases, have 
reportedly been resolved; however, the Health Cluster reports a lack of 
staff to distribute supplies to those areas in need. WHO is looking into 
engaging NGOs in the distribution of essential supplies to health 
centres.

4. Around 250 drums of gasoline are expected to arrive in Lebanon on 13 
August and will be utilized by the UN system to maintain relief convoys. 
However, some organizations (ICRC, WFP) note difficulties in obtaining 
tax and duty exemptions for fuel importations. UNJLC/WFP and HRC will 
discuss how to resolve with the Ministry of Energy.

5. With significant damage to land routes into Lebanon, the United 
Nations Joint Logistics Center (UNJLC) logisticians are increasingly 
bringing relief cargo in by sea, with more use expected of ports at 
Tripoli and Latakia in Syria. The Aarida road to Beirut is only usable 
for light trucks.

6. The HRC and the UN Deputy HC continue to strengthen cooperation 
mechanisms, working closely to jointly identify priorities and joint 
assessments.

7. Syria: The Government of Syria, in cooperation with partners, today 
unveiled plans for a central coordination platform through which all 
humanitarian actors can ensure more effectively coordinated assistance 
to the over 180,000 displaced Lebanese.

Security

8. Major security threats to humanitarian personnel and movement of 
goods continue to hamper relief efforts by agencies. Attacks like the 
one which twice struck close to the same UN convoy on Sunday could 
prevent humanitarian operations from continuing. To provide additional 
support to UN convoys, an additional five armoured vehicles, which 
arrived in-country yesterday, will be used.

HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

Logistics

9. A 19-truck convoy carrying relief supplies, including wheat flour, 
canned food, oil and hi-energy biscuits (HEB), left Beirut for Saida 
(Sidon) Monday morning. WFP reports that the convoy planned for Nabatyeh 
today was not given security clearance following yesterday s near miss 
incident north of Tyre. Other convoys proceeded as planned.

10. Another convoy of 11 trucks crossed the Aarida border today. UNICEF 
supplies on board include 100 First Aid kits, 1,000 baby hygiene kits 
and 36mt of essential drugs. Two UN aircraft landed at Beirut, with WHO 
supplies and HEB from Brindisi.



|--------------+--------------+-------------------|
|   Upcoming   |              |                   |
|  Logistics   |              |                   |
|   Movement   |              |                   |
|    (Land)    |              |                   |
|--------------+--------------+-------------------|
|     Date     | Destination  |     Comments      |
|--------------+--------------+-------------------|
|    8-Aug     |Sidon (Saida) |   Relief Goods    |
|--------------+--------------+-------------------|
|              |    Arida     |   Relief Goods    |
|--------------+--------------+-------------------|
|              |  Taalabaya   |   Relief Goods    |
|              |   (Zahle)    |                   |
|--------------+--------------+-------------------|
|    9 Aug     |Sidon (Saida) |   Relief Goods    |
|--------------+--------------+-------------------|
|              |              |                   |
|--------------+--------------+-------------------|
|              |    Arida     |   Relief Goods    |
|--------------+--------------+-------------------|
|              |Baalbek (Zahle|   Relief Goods    |
|              | Wavle camp)  |                   |
|--------------+--------------+-------------------|
|              |   Nabatyie   |   Relief Goods    |
|--------------+--------------+-------------------|
|              |    Saida     |   Relief Goods    |
|--------------+--------------+-------------------|



|--------------+--------------+-------------------|
|   Upcoming   |              |                   |
|  Logistics   |              |                   |
|Movement (Sea)|              |                   |
|--------------+--------------+-------------------|
|     Date     | Destination  |     Comments      |
|--------------+--------------+-------------------|
|    11-Aug    |    Beirut    |   1 ICRC vessel   |
|--------------+--------------+-------------------|
|              |    Beirut    |   1 WFP vessel    |
|              |              |  carrying wheat   |
|              |              |       flour       |
|--------------+--------------+-------------------|
|    13-Aug    |    Beirut    | 1 vessel carrying |
|              |              |     gasoline      |
|--------------+--------------+-------------------|




|--------------+--------------+-------------------|
|   Upcoming   |              |                   |
|  Logistics   |              |                   |
|Movement (Air)|              |                   |
|--------------+--------------+-------------------|
|     Date     | Destination  |     Comments      |
|--------------+--------------+-------------------|
|    8-Aug     |    Beirut    |  2 Jordanian Air  |
|              |              |Force planeloads of|
|              |              |    UNHCR NFIs     |
|--------------+--------------+-------------------|


Health/Nutrition

11. WHO is working with the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) to urgently 
follow up with the main public hospitals in the country regarding their 
operating status after this weekend s offensive.

12. UNRWA doctors continue to visit the 3,759 displaced sheltering in 
UNRWA schools. The main health problems remain acute upper respiratory 
infections, diarrhoea, scabies, lice, skin infections (impetigo) and 
chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and heart diseases.

13. UNICEF reports that the children s vaccination campaigns against 
polio and measles will be ramped up this week; to counter the 
increasingly cramped conditions of IDPs are living in public shelters. 
Vaccine deliveries are awaited.

14. Syria: The Ministry of Health (MoH), with the support of the US 
Centres for Disease Control (CDC) and WHO, is currently conducting 
training for Public Health Officers from 14 governorates in Syria to 
ensure proper implementation of the Early Warning and Response System 
(EWARS), targeted to cover 85% of the displaced Lebanese PoCs.

15. A total of 4,727 children have been vaccinated against measles 
during the latest immunization campaign organized by the MoPH in close 
collaboration with UNICEF, WHO and NGO partners. Approximately 4,300 
children were also vaccinated against polio, 3,200 against measles, 
mumps, and rubella (MMR), and 2,500 against meningitis. UNICEF explains 
that immunization coverage is as follows: polio (OPV) 89.6%; MMR 78.3%; 
77.8% meningitis (24-59 months) and 39.4% for 5-15 year olds. Data from 
the remaining five governorates are expected shortly.

Food

16. The HRC continues to carry out daily distributions of food and NFI 
to schools and host families sheltering the displaced. Families are 
receiving a weekly food basket containing 3kg rice, 2kg sugar, tea, 
cheese, milk, canned meat and fish, pasta, children s foods, and other 
items.

17. Food distributions continue in Beirut and South Lebanon, and WFP has 
now finalized plans and partners for distribution in Tripoli and the 
Bekaa Valley.

Shelter/Non Food Items

18. UNHCR is working with the Government and others to develop a tented 
camp for 800-1,000 displaced people at an old railway depot in Beirut's 
Furn El Shabak. UNHCR will provide light-weight emergency tents; OXFAM 
will provide material for water and sanitation needs, while the GoL will 
provide labour. The French Army is setting up electricity. The Swiss 
Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is helping to develop 
another site.

19. The HRC is distributing NFIs for children under 24 months, including 
underwear, diapers and soap. UNDP NFI distribution has now reached some 
4,500 IDPs in Beirut s southern suburbs and via the National Scout 
Association in Shiah.

20. UNHCR is expecting a further 3,600 mattresses and 9,000 blankets to 
be delivered by air (Royal Jordanian Air Force) from Jordan on 8 August. 
Urgent needs identified in Beirut IDP camps include sheets, blankets, 
and hygiene items.

Water and Sanitation

21. WHO is establishing a water quality monitoring system in IDP 
shelters in close collaboration with the MoPH, UNFPA, and UNICEF.

22. UNFPA hygiene kits have been distributed to 1,140 families, 
benefiting around 7,000 beneficiaries in Zahle. The Lebanese Red Cross 
(LRC) in Zahle will distribute the kits, which include antiseptic soap, 
sanitary napkins, toothpaste and toothbrushes, toilet paper and other 
essentials, to IDP centres in towns and villages in the Bekaa area. 
Additional kits will be delivered to Saida on Tuesday 9 August, for 
onward delivery to IDP centres and communities remaining in the conflict 
zone.

23. Syria: The following actions are envisaged for longer term relief: 
Water trucking in cases of shortages in some sites; Construction of 
toilets/units in some sites; Rehabilitation of sanitation facilities, 
including replacement of damaged parts/fittings and unblock disposal 
system; Installation of water heaters; Procurement of hygiene supplies 
(soap, detergent, garbage bags, disinfectant, sanitary napkins, diapers 
and plastic washing bowls).

Protection

24. The IOM programme assisting Third Country Nationals (TCNs) continues 
in partnership with governments and other stakeholders. A total of 5,000 
have been assisted ex-Lebanon so far; this is set to reach 8,000 by the 
end of this week.

25. IOM land convoys continue to Syria, with onward flights out of Syria 
to national destinations. As of 6 August, over 5,140 people had been 
moved by 115 buses. Another 2,482 planned to be moved in next five days 
on 59 buses. IOM coordinates movements with UNDSS and the IDF. Sea 
routes via Syria and nearby countries are being explored in the event of 
a further deterioration in the security situation.

26. TCN air departures over the next three days should include flights 
to Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, Philippines, Nepal, Cameroon, Vietnam, and 
Bangladesh. Other requests are in process, including from Uganda, 
Madagascar and the Seychelles.

27. Syria: IOM medical teams are providing health screening and an 
ambulance service with IOM doctor on board to transport patients 
directly onto the tarmac for onward flights. Yesterday some 500 
Ethiopian and Sri Lankan nationals departed Syria.

Education

28. A preliminary Education Cluster has been established to assess key 
issues such as the forthcoming start of the school year, starting from 
today. Members include both public and private education bodies, reports 
UNICEF.

FUNDING

29. The UN encourages donors who wish to contribute in-kind to the 
Lebanon response to do so against the requirements as laid out in the 
UN's Flash Appeal.

Flash Appeal

30. According to the OCHA Financial Tracking System (FTS), as of 7 
August, US$ 41 million have been contributed or committed by donors 
towards the Lebanon Flash Appeal. In other words, 26% of the appeal 
requirements are met so far. In addition, donors have pledged another 
US$ 28 million for WFP (US$14 m), UNHCR (US$9 m), UNICEF (US$3m), UNFPA 
(US$794,913), UNWRA (US$158,000), WHO (US$39,000), and OCHA (US$25,000). 
This is based on data as reported to the Financial Tracking System.

Overall Contributions

31. The total amount of resources made available for humanitarian aid to 
Lebanon (inside and outside the Flash Appeal) is US$107 million. Another 
US$227 million has been pledged including US$20 million in bilateral 
assistance from UAE, US$ 50 million in bilateral assistance from Saudi 
Arabia, and US$ 70 million from the Gulf Cooperation Council.

32. For the latest funding requirements, contributions, and list of 
projects, see the FTS on http://www.reliefweb.int/fts.

Contact Details:

Desk Officers: