Lebanon: International co-ordination to contain oil spill under way

After the cessation of hostilities international organisations are beginning to co-ordinate their assistance to Lebanon to fight against the oil-spill. International organisations involved in the response to marine pollution emergencies are meeting on 17 August in Athens in order to agree on an action plan aiming at co-ordinating follow up actions to those carried out by the European Commission in the framework of the monitoring and information Centre (MIC) on civil protection in Lebanon.

"The recent oil spill off the coast of Lebanon is an environmental disaster, and may affect the livelihood, health and future prospect of Lebanon and the surrounding countries. With the help of the Commission's civil protection mechanism, Member States have been able to provide co-ordinated assistance, including experts and specialised materials," said Stavros Dimas, the Commissioner in charge of the co-ordination efforts aimed at containing the damage from the oil spill. "The cessation of the hostilities will create the conditions for engaging the support of the international community in a consistent and co-ordinated manner. It is my hope that the international community will agree on a common action plan which should step by step take over the first response civil protection activities by the Monitoring and Information Centre of the European Commission," said Commissioner Dimas

The spill was caused by the destruction of a storage tank at a power plant at Jieh, which was hit by Israeli bombs on the 13th and 15th of July. The fuel has been burning, but part of it has leaked out to sea. There are also some other smaller sources of oil spills, which are believed to be caused by a ship that sank. The heavy oil has so far contaminated at least 20-30 km of the coastline North of Jieh. The spill has affected rocky and sandy public beaches as well as ports and marinas.

The Lebanese government requested the assistance in the form of significant amounts of dispersants, booms, absorbents, skimmers, as well as specialised boats and any other material/equipment needed for clean-up operation.

A team of experts has been providing support since 9 August to the Lebanese authorities in terms of assessment of the situation, providing action plans as well as training. Several states responded to the request and the first assistance in kind has been delivered on 14 August to Lebanon.

Background:

On 27 July 2006, the Lebanese Ministry of Environment requested the assistance of the Commission following a major oil spill causing a very serious environmental emergency.

An estimated quantity of 10,000 - 15,000 tons of heavy fuel oil is reported to have contaminated at least 30 km of the Lebanese coastline.

The oil originated mainly from sources on land, such as the storage tanks of a power plant in the Jieh area, 30 km south of Beirut and party from sources at sea. The Commission immediately activated the Community Mechanism for civil protection.

The request for assistance includes dispersants, booms, absorbents, skimmers, as well as specialised boats and any other material needed for clean up operations, as well as a list of specialised registered companies which could assist In the response. The MIC (Monitoring and Information Centre for Civil Protection) forwarded the request to the participating Countries (civil protection and marine pollution contact points).

The MIC remains in close contact with other International organisations involved (UNEP, REMPEC - Regional emergency response centre for the Mediterranean Sea). The provision of satellite imagery through the International Charter "Space and major disasters" and the Joint Research Centre is also provided.

This meeting will ensure the hand over of response operations from the MIC to international organisations involved in marine pollution in a co-ordinated and consistent way.

Webpage : http://ec.europa.eu/environment/civil/marin/mp01_en_introduction.htm

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