Mediterranean environment affected by armed conflict


The IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation wants to express its enormous concern and deep regret over the damage made to the Mediterranean people, their sea and countries as a result of the recent war in the Middle East. This war is seriously affecting the people, as well as the Mediterranean natural environment and living ecosystems. Of particular concern is the oil spill which developed off the coast of Lebanon in mid-July following an Israeli bombing of coastal power plants.

The slick, which covers 150 Km along Lebanon’s Mediterranean shore, is spreading northwards to reach Syrian and Cypriot coastlines.

This pollution, described by environmentalists as the worst environmental disaster in Lebanese history, has affected the livelihood of Mediterranean fishermen and other natural sea resources. Thousands of fish and other living species are found dead on the shores everyday.

IUCN has offered its support to the Lebanese Ministry of Environment and is ready to act in coordination with relevant international organisations to help assess the environmental impacts caused by the conflict and in particular the oil spill.

Further below you will find key links with updated information on the action envisaged by IUCN and other international organisations in the field:

Armed Conflict and the Environment in Lebanon and Israel: Statement from Mr Valli Moosa, President of the World Conservation Union (IUCN).
http://www.iucn.org/en/news/archive/2006/07/25_valli_statement.pdf

Armed Conflict Undermines Conservation Efforts: news from IUCN members in Lebanon
http://www.iucn.org/wescana

IUCN Jordan National Committee Sends a Call for Action on Implementing IUCN’S Resolutions on War and the Environment in West Asia
http://www.iucn.org/places/wescana/

IUCN President’s response to Jordan National Committee

Ministry of Environment – Lebanon
http://www.moe.gov.lb
http://www.moe.gov.lb/ministercircular.htm (only in Arabic)

UNEP Backs Response to Lebanon’s Oil Slick Emergency
http://www.unep.org/lebanon
http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=483&ArticleID=5318&l=en

UNEP Mediterranean Action Plan
http://www.unepmap.org
http://www.unepmap.org/archivio/all_languages/webdocs/press/060802-LEBANON%20FINAL.pdf http://www.zki.dlr.de/applications/2006/lebanon/lebanon_2006_en.html

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) – Environmental Emergencies Section
http://ochaonline.un.org/webpage.asp?MenuID=11834&Page=2204

Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea - REMPEC
http://www.rempec.org/news.asp

European Commission Civil Protection
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/civil/leb_cy_2006.htm

European Commission Humanitarian Aid Office
http://ec.europa.eu/echo/index_en.htm

Other news: BBC News
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/middle_east/2001/israel_and_the_palestinians/default.stm

Lebanon Calls for Help
http://www.greenconsumerguide.com/index.php?news=3223