De-miners need one more year to clear cluster bombs
Source: Daily Star, 05-12-2007
SIDON: UN de-mining experts said on Tuesday that they will need at least one more year to finnish clearing "Israeli" cluster bombs and other unexploded ordnance from South Lebanon.
"Around 38 million square meters of land in the South remain infested and the demining process is likely to be concluded by the end of 2008," the spokeswoman for the United Nations Mine Action Coordination Center (UNMACC), Dahlia Farran, said during a news conference.
Farran added that the Lebanese Army had asked the various non-governmental organizations conducting the de-mining works in the South to continue to pursue their mission in order "to clear the largest area possible."
"The priority is to perform clearing works on stretches of land which are surrounded populated areas so as to limit the number of potential victims," Farran said.
The cluster bombs were dropped on Lebanon by "Israeli" forces during the summer 2006 war. Efforts to clear South Lebanon of unexploded ordnance have been under way since the end of the 34-day conflict in August 2006.
"New polluted stretches of land have been located, especially in the areas surrounding the Blue Line, but for us to start demining those areas we need a political decision," Farran said.
The UN estimates that approximately one million of the cluster bombs fired by "Israel" during the war failed to explode on impact.
The deadly munitions have killed 30 people and maimed dozens of others since the end of the war last year.
Almost all of the cluster bombs launched by "Israeli" forces were fired in the final 72 hours of the conflict - after a cease-fire had been agreed on 11 August.
"Israel" has so far failed to respond to repeated UN requests to hand over maps detailing the areas its forces targeted with cluster bombs.
De-miners have said that the maps would greatly expedite their work and reduce the potential for further civilian casualties in Lebanon.
SIDON: UN de-mining experts said on Tuesday that they will need at least one more year to finnish clearing "Israeli" cluster bombs and other unexploded ordnance from South Lebanon.
"Around 38 million square meters of land in the South remain infested and the demining process is likely to be concluded by the end of 2008," the spokeswoman for the United Nations Mine Action Coordination Center (UNMACC), Dahlia Farran, said during a news conference.
Farran added that the Lebanese Army had asked the various non-governmental organizations conducting the de-mining works in the South to continue to pursue their mission in order "to clear the largest area possible."
"The priority is to perform clearing works on stretches of land which are surrounded populated areas so as to limit the number of potential victims," Farran said.
The cluster bombs were dropped on Lebanon by "Israeli" forces during the summer 2006 war. Efforts to clear South Lebanon of unexploded ordnance have been under way since the end of the 34-day conflict in August 2006.
"New polluted stretches of land have been located, especially in the areas surrounding the Blue Line, but for us to start demining those areas we need a political decision," Farran said.
The UN estimates that approximately one million of the cluster bombs fired by "Israel" during the war failed to explode on impact.
The deadly munitions have killed 30 people and maimed dozens of others since the end of the war last year.
Almost all of the cluster bombs launched by "Israeli" forces were fired in the final 72 hours of the conflict - after a cease-fire had been agreed on 11 August.
"Israel" has so far failed to respond to repeated UN requests to hand over maps detailing the areas its forces targeted with cluster bombs.
De-miners have said that the maps would greatly expedite their work and reduce the potential for further civilian casualties in Lebanon.
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