Systematic clearance in south Lebanon and the Bekaa, reducing risks to personal security, enabling socioeconomic opportunity, whilst contributing to a cluster-munition free Lebanon

The persistent threat from cluster munitions and landmines in Lebanon continues to hinder socio-economic reconstruction efforts as well as threaten the physical safety and security of affected communities. Contamination remains from over 30 years of internal and regional conflicts. The Lebanese Civil War from 1975 to 1990, together with the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon until 2000, resulted in huge levels of infrastructure destruction and a significant legacy of landmines and Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) across Lebanon. The impact of contamination has been further exacerbated by the Syrian Civil War. Currently over one million Syrian refugees have sought safety in Lebanon, which represents around 25% of Lebanon’s population. Over 35% (360,000) of these refugees currently reside in the heavily contaminated region of the Bekaa Valley. The consistent influx has not only led to an increased strain on economic resources, heightened tensions between host and refugee communities, but has significantly increased the physical threat to vulnerable groups from exposure to legacy contamination in the Bekaa and southern Lebanon. MAG’s work is an integral part of the implementation of the LMAC Mine Action Strategy 2011-2021, which emphasizes the need for continued mine action to achieve a Lebanon free from the impact of cluster munitions by 2020 (in accordance with the Convention on Cluster Munitions) and of landmines by 2021. By continuing to provide a substantial clearance capacity, this project will positively impact local communities and Syrian refugees by directly removing the threat from cluster munitions and landmines, raise awareness of the risk through RE sessions, and provide up to date contamination and impact data to support evidence prioritisation of tasks.