With 4,000 explosive items now being dropped daily in Lebanon, MAG estimates around ten per cent will fail to explode and many items will remain dangerous as internally displaced people return to their homes.
MAG is calling for
widespread international support to conduct their recovery programmes
as part of its worldwide public appeal for Lebanon.
More than
900,000 Lebanese are expected to return and MAG’s 80-strong staff is
mobilised to clear as many of the remnants of conflict as soon as there
is a cessation of hostilities. Made up of deadly mortar bombs, cluster
munitions, improvised devices and more, these items can cause untold
damage to lives and property if left unchecked.
Until recently
MAG was clearing and destroying landmines from southern Lebanon when
the conflict erupted and is well-used to working in conflict zones.
Drawing on their experience in 11 other countries, MAG has cleared an
incredible one million unexploded items in just one year from northern
Iraq and says that surviving during the recovery process can be just as
dangerous as surviving the conflict.
In a small town in Iraq, when the
fighting stopped, 60 people were killed in just one week from
unexploded items - most of them were children. MAG wants to prevent the
same fate for survivors in Lebanon.
Director for International
Projects Steve Priestley, leading the initiative in Beirut, said: “With
public support we can increase our staff and assets on the ground in
Lebanon so we can get in before people start returning in their
thousands.”
He explained their work is vital if other aid and
relief agencies have any chance of conducting their disaster recovery
operations safely. Steve added: “Helping aid agencies, returnees and
survivors to get essential resources is absolutely paramount. We
physically clear areas of the explosive remnants of conflict so people
can get access to water, power, fuel and food sources.”
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 and
huge steps can be made towards rebuilding the lives of those most
affected. We appeal to all our supporters so we can help those who
survived the conflict, survive their recovery.”
MAG is urging
the British public to support its conflict recovery response in Lebanon
by making a donation. Either call the 24-hour hotline on 0800 0723 999
or click the 'Lebanon Crisis' button on the left of this page to make a
donation.
10 August 06
