MAG has mobilised key technical experts and existing assets in
Lebanon to help stop deadly unexploded bombs and abandoned weapons
causing harm to civilians.
With more than five years' experience in
Lebanon, MAG will deploy their highly trained Lebanese personnel to
conduct the clearance of unexploded bombs and cluster munitions,
landmines and Improvised Explosive Devices. MAG is also looking to draw
on their worldwide operations in 11 countries to assist in the Lebanon
crisis.
Director for International Projects Steve Priestley,
leading the initiative, said: “Helping ordinary people to get essential
resources during conflict is absolutely paramount in Lebanon. We
physically clear areas of the explosive remnants of conflict so people
can get access to water, power, fuel and food sources. Conflict
recovery simply can’t happen unless recovery efforts are focused on
people’s essential needs first so we can’t begin soon enough.”
MAG
has been operational in the country since the Israeli withdrawal in
2000, and were the only active international agency engaged in
clearance and conflict recovery when the current crisis erupted.
Moving quickly to secure the safety of their staff and their families, they now plan to resume operations and expect to increase their 80-strong Lebanese staff.
They will start prioritising clearance operations in
some of the worst hit areas in central and southern Lebanon and,
working with UN agencies, national authorities and other international
NGOs, they will provide a rapid response as soon as there is a
cessation in hostilities. The work will allow other aid and relief
agencies to conduct disaster recovery operations safely.
Executive
Director Lou McGrath believes MAG’s reputation in Lebanon will get the
organisation into the worst affected areas. He said: “Lives will be
saved during the next few critical days and weeks - as we found in Iraq
when the war began - and huge steps can be made towards rebuilding the
lives of those most affected. In one year alone we cleared more than a
million items saving countless lives in Iraq. We appeal to all our
supporters to help us do the same in Lebanon.”
3 August 06
