Training in Lebanon for the clean-up of its polluted shoreline – Jun 25, 2021

Following the Mediterranean Assistance Unit (MAU) experts mission in Lebanon , 22 March -2 April 2021, mobilised by REMPEC for the assessment of the situation following the pollution of the Lebanese shoreline with heavy fuel oil, REMPEC organised in the framework of the MAU and in cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Resident Coordinator (UNRC), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) an online training course funded by the International Maritime Organization Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme (ITCP). The training was attended by supervisors and experts from the contractor, the local municipalities and relevant local UN agencies and the Ministry of Environment of Lebanon.

The training provided the necessary knowledge to oversee the clean-up operations and waste collection, transport and storage, along the 25 Km and 65,000 m2 affected Southern Lebanese coastline, which will be initiated end June and expected to be completed by end August 2021.

The two-half day training was delivered on 24 and 25 June 2021, by the Centre of Documentation, Research and Experimentation on Accidental Water Pollution (Cedre), member of the MAU.

This training has once again demonstrated the value of a UN “Delivering as One”, combining the technical expertise of REMPEC through the MAU, the mobilisation of financial resources through UNDP and IMO and the local coordination by UNEP, UNDP and the United Nations Resident Coordinator (UNRC), and the contribution of the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UNHABITAT).