![[Lebanon] A fishing port on the coast in central Beirut affected by the oil spill from the Joyeh power station that was bombed by Israeli planes. [Date picture taken: 07/29/2006]](https://assets.thenewhumanitarian.org/s3fs-public/styles/responsive_large_2x/public/images/200673024.jpg.webp?itok=DUODW4Ir "The oil spill from the bombed Jiyyeh power station has created environmental and economic problems.")
Israeli assurances of safe passage to representatives of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) on Monday mean work can finally begin on clearing up a massive oil spill along 150km of Lebanon’s 225km coastline.
“It is a sad fact that the environment – so vividly underlined by the oil slick and the blackened, damaged coastline – is also a victim, with all the repercussions for livelihoods, human health, economic development, eco-systems, fisheries, tourism and rare and endangered wildlife,” Achim Steiner, executive director of UNEP, said on Monday.
The clean-up operation could take years, with devastating effects for local fishermen. “We barely managed to fish enough to provide food on the table [before the war], so imagine what it is like now with the Israeli siege and the oil spill covering the shoreline?” asked Abu Fadi, 56, a Beirut fisherman.
“We cannot go out and fish in contaminated waters and our boats are caught in a pond of thick oil inside the port.”
Hundreds of Lebanese families depend on the fishing industry and comprise one of the poorest sections of society, according to Jamal Alameh, president of the Fishermen COOP in the Ouzaei fishing port, south of the capital.
He says because of the direction of the current and wind around Beirut, the oil spill has especially affected fishing communities north of Beirut.
The 10,000 to 15,000 tonnes of fuel oil was spilled in the Mediterranean Sea after Israeli air strikes on 13 and 15 July hit Jiyeh power station, 30km south of Beirut.
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, a Lebanese political party with an armed wing, began on 12 July with the capture of Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah; a ceasefire became effective on 14 August.
Some of the possible short-term adverse effects of being in contact with such an oil spill include nausea, headaches and dermatological problems. Crops and animal products close to the oil spill may have to be tested for hydrocarbon content to be declared safe for consumption.
Antoun Andria, an environmental specialist, told IRIN that the long-term effects of the oil spill would be far wider than just local coastal communities.
“The fish might contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in addition to other cancerous impurities that might not only affect the fisherman but the entire Lebanese population,” he said.
At an international meeting in Greece convened by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and UNEP on 17 August, a plan was agreed to clean up the oil spill.
The main points are the recovery of floating oil in ports, harbours and in the most heavily polluted sites; the testing of oil samples to see if they contain persistent organic pollutants of risk to human health; and the protection of sensitive areas such as nesting sites for birds and turtles, World Heritage sites and tourist locations.
HT/LH/ED/MW
“It is a sad fact that the environment – so vividly underlined by the oil slick and the blackened, damaged coastline – is also a victim, with all the repercussions for livelihoods, human health, economic development, eco-systems, fisheries, tourism and rare and endangered wildlife,” Achim Steiner, executive director of UNEP, said on Monday.
The clean-up operation could take years, with devastating effects for local fishermen. “We barely managed to fish enough to provide food on the table [before the war], so imagine what it is like now with the Israeli siege and the oil spill covering the shoreline?” asked Abu Fadi, 56, a Beirut fisherman.
“We cannot go out and fish in contaminated waters and our boats are caught in a pond of thick oil inside the port.”
Hundreds of Lebanese families depend on the fishing industry and comprise one of the poorest sections of society, according to Jamal Alameh, president of the Fishermen COOP in the Ouzaei fishing port, south of the capital.
He says because of the direction of the current and wind around Beirut, the oil spill has especially affected fishing communities north of Beirut.
The 10,000 to 15,000 tonnes of fuel oil was spilled in the Mediterranean Sea after Israeli air strikes on 13 and 15 July hit Jiyeh power station, 30km south of Beirut.
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, a Lebanese political party with an armed wing, began on 12 July with the capture of Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah; a ceasefire became effective on 14 August.
Some of the possible short-term adverse effects of being in contact with such an oil spill include nausea, headaches and dermatological problems. Crops and animal products close to the oil spill may have to be tested for hydrocarbon content to be declared safe for consumption.
Antoun Andria, an environmental specialist, told IRIN that the long-term effects of the oil spill would be far wider than just local coastal communities.
“The fish might contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in addition to other cancerous impurities that might not only affect the fisherman but the entire Lebanese population,” he said.
At an international meeting in Greece convened by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and UNEP on 17 August, a plan was agreed to clean up the oil spill.
The main points are the recovery of floating oil in ports, harbours and in the most heavily polluted sites; the testing of oil samples to see if they contain persistent organic pollutants of risk to human health; and the protection of sensitive areas such as nesting sites for birds and turtles, World Heritage sites and tourist locations.
HT/LH/ED/MW
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
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