Collective for Research and Training on Development-Action (CRTD.A), a Beirut-based non-government organisation (NGO) working on gender and development issues, provides this 11 August 2006 three-part report on the security and humanitarian situation in Lebanon.

(I) Update on the security and humanitarian situation in Lebanon

Facts and figures
as of 12 July 2006

1,016 women, men, and children have been killed (they are overwhelmingly civilians compared to around 100 Israelis killed almost entirely amongst the armed forces)
30% of those killed are less than 12 years old
3,300 casualties, 12% of whom now have permanent disabilities
900,000 internally displaced persons, the overwhelming majority of whom are women and children 23% of the total citizens of Lebanon are now displaced
220,000 Lebanese women and men have left the country
Hundreds of families are under siege
7 billion dollars of losses in infrastructure destruction
Four million square metres of buildings totally destroyed
700 factories and workshops totally and/or partially destroyed
174 bridges destroyed
10,000 tons of heavy oil spillage on the Lebanese coast
80 kilometres of the Lebanese coast heavily polluted

Since CRTD.As last update of 28 July, the security situation in Lebanon has continued to worsen. Displacement has continued with now almost one quarter of the civilian population displaced in shelters or with friends and family. The destruction of the countrys economy and infrastructure continues unabated. Carnage and massacres of innocent and unarmed civilians who are trapped in their homes and basements or who are attempting to flee on foot or by car are now frequent everyday events.

The country remains almost entirely under siege with the United Nations (UN) failing to set up the humanitarian corridors.

During a relative lull in the bombardments after the Qana massacre on July 30 and following the Qana massacre, at least with the perimeter of Beirut, Israeli military hostilities focused on Southern Lebanon where the Israeli army attempted a number of failed insurrections across the border.

On the political level, the Lebanese cabinet drew a seven-point proposal which calls for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire and a declaration of agreement on seven key issues:

1. An undertaking to release the Lebanese and Israeli prisoners and detainees through the ICRC [International Committee of the Red Cross].
2. The withdrawal of the Israeli army behind the Blue Line, and the return of the displaced to their villages.
3. A commitment from the [UN] Security Council to place the Shebaa Farms area and the Kfarshouba Hills under UN jurisdiction until border delineation and Lebanese sovereignty over them are fully settled. While in UN custody, the area will be accessible to Lebanese property owners there. Further, Israel surrenders all remaining landmine maps in South Lebanon to the UN.
4. The Lebanese government extends its authority over its territory through its own legitimate armed forces, such that there will be no weapons or authority other than that of the Lebanese state as stipulated in the Taef national reconciliation document.
5. The UN international force operation in South Lebanon is supplemented and enhanced in numbers, equipment, mandate and scope of operation, as needed, in order to undertake urgent humanitarian and relief work and guarantee stability and security in the south so that those who fled their homes can return.
6. The UN, in co-operation with the relevant parties, undertakes the necessary measures to once again put into effect the Armistice Agreement signed by Lebanon and Israel in 1949, and to insure adherence to the provisions of that agreement, as well as to explore possible amendments to or development of said provisions, as necessary.
7. The international community commits to support Lebanon on all levels, and to assist it in facing the tremendous burden resulting from the human, social, and economic tragedy which has afflicted the country, especially in the areas of relief, reconstruction, and rebuilding of the national economy.
   

PM Sinioras seven-point proposal was unanimously endorsed by all internal parties including Hezbollah.

The proposal was, however, sidelined during the Rome meeting, which failed to put an end to the Israeli aggression on Lebanon. Instead, France and USA put forward a proposal for a UN Security Council resolution which not only ignores the national consensus around PM Sinioras seven-point plan but rather strengthens Israeli demands aimed at a forceful implementation of UN resolution 1559 with full international and Arab backing.

Meanwhile, and despite ever increasing human, material, and economic losses, the Lebanese government is not expected to give in to the demands of the USA and Israel but is rather expected to resist.

The humanitarian crisis and the outrage of Arab peoples and world opinion seem to have finally prompted Arab governments to provide a belated backing to the Lebanese government and rally behind PM Sinioras seven-point plan.

Efforts now focus on revising the otherwise unacceptable US-France proposal and bring it as close as possible to Lebanons seven-point plan.

In the meantime, Israel seems to benefit from an extra time during which it continuously attempts to score any military success with a resulting rampage, civilians carnage, and destruction whilst consistently losing out in face to face battles with Hezbollah.


(II) Relief Operations in Lebanon

As indicated in earlier updates, civil society organisations (CSOs) and non-governmental organisations mobilised quite fast in response to the humanitarian situation and the plight of the displaced.

The government machinery was eventually put in place albeit suffering from three (sic) key deficiencies:

• Lack of clear short term and long term vision,
• Gap between demand and supply,
• Poor performance and effectiveness, and
• Lack of transparency and an ever encouragement of patronage.

Various NGOs/CSOs coalitions are operating in such a way that combined immediate relief operations as well as advocacy and lobbying initiatives.

One of such initiatives, the CSOs for Freedom and Life (of which CRTD.A is a member and which includes more than 30 CSOs), has initiated an action targeting essentially the governmental relief operations.

The coalition called for a press conference on 6 August demanding accountability from the government, including:

• Transparency on aid received so far;
• Reporting on mechanisms of aid distribution;
• Clarity on short term relief plans; and
• Clarity on long term return, rehabilitation and reconstruction plans.

At the moment, with an rising influx of IDPs and the increasing pressure on IDP centres, the humanitarian situation is expected to worsen, particularly for women and children. This means a rapid degradation in the shelter, health, environmental, water, and sanitation conditions.

More importantly, there are clear indications on the important impact on women and children at the level of:

• Harsh living conditions,
• Insufficient supply of food and basic services,
• Gap in addressing womens specific personal needs,
• Unavailability of private spaces for women,
• Psychological impact,
• Womens vulnerability to violence and harassment, and
• Increased physical burden on women.

In addition, and should IDPs return home, it is expected that women will bear the brunt of caring for their families, especially in the case of totally destroyed homes and livelihoods.

(III) International solidarity

Whilst Israel continues its aggression on the peoples of Lebanon and amidst increasing humanitarian crisis, regional and international solidarity amongst peoples, and particularly the womens movement, has become an essential requirement for steadfastness and resistance.

Women of the world are invited to:

1. Express solidarity vis--vis the women and people of Lebanon.
2. Clearly denounce the disproportionate use of violence by Israel.
3. Refuse and condemn the attacks on innocent civilians in Lebanon.
4. Demand an international respect for the will of the people of Lebanon and their right to self-determination and make their own political choices.
5. Demand international accountability and responsibility for Israeli war crimes.
6. Strengthen global women to women solidarity in order to overcome the present humanitarian crisis and support future recovery efforts.

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About CRTDA
The Collective for Research and Training on Development-Action (CRTD.A) is a non-governmental organization initiated in July 1999 and based in Beirut. It works in Lebanon and in Yemen, Egypt, Syria, Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria, CRTD.A seeks to contribute to the social development of local communities and organisations through enhancing capacities particularly in gender analysis, gender and development, poverty and exclusion, for the purpose of contributing to creating a more just and equitable environment. Write to Lina Habib of CRTD-A at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sources:
AnNahar newspaper July 29, 2006 and August 03, 2006 <http://www.annaharonline.com/>
AlBalad newspaper August 95, 2006 <http://www.albaladonline.com/>
BBC News <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5256936.stm>
BBC News <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5249488.stm>

This report was circulated on the [This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.] mailing list of the International Gender and Trade Network.