Key Statistics
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IMPACT OF CONFLICT
| |
| Duration of Conflict | 38 days (since July 12) |
| Deaths | 1,183 (an estimated 1/3 of them children)
|
| Casualties | 4,054 (an estimated 1/3 of them children)
|
| Internally Displaced (%children) | 262,174 (an estimated 45% of them children) |
| Total number of schools housing IDPs | 814 (source: Higher Relief Committee) |
| Number of IDPs staying in schools | 33,170 (source: Higher Relief Committee) |
| Total number of refugees staying in Syria | Figure being revised |
| Number of refugees placed in public institutions in Syria (schools, centres, camps) | Figure being revised |
| Total number of refugees currently in need of assistance i.e. staying in facilities such as schools and other centres (% of Children) | Figure being revised |
| Estimated number of returning refugees | 107,140 (UNHCR) |
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SITUATION PRIOR TO
THE CONFLICT
| |
| Total Population: | 3.5 million |
| Under 18 | 1.2 million |
| Under five mortality rate | 31 per 1,000 live births. |
| Maternal mortality rate | 150 per 100,000 live births. |
| Underweight: | 3 per cent |
| Nearly universal access to improved water | 100% |
| Sanitation | 98% in urban, 87% in rural |
| Immunisation rates | over 90% |
SITUATION IN LEBANON
Major Developments
By the end of Thursday, the fourth day of the ceasefire, more than 107,000 had crossed back to Lebanon on the official crossings. The total of 26,000 returning from Syria on Thursday was less than in the previous two days. Collective shelters now appear to be largely empty (UNHCR).
Foreign aid groups voiced concern about getting emergency supplies to the most stricken regions through Israel's continuing blockade. Despite urgent appeals from the EU and the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Israel says it will enforce the air and sea blockade it imposed on Lebanon at the start of the conflict until it has completed its pullout. Planes and ships will be given clearance only on a case-by-case basis through the UN.
Israel says it has now withdrawn from two-thirds of its positions in southern Lebanon, including the port city of Tyre and villages of Qana, Hadatha and Beit Yahoun.
Lebanese troops took up positions in the heavily bombed border town of Khiam on Friday as they pressed on with a historic deployment to the south while the UN pressed efforts to find troop contributors to the expanded UN force. The UN is looking to expand UNIFIL from its current strength of 1,990 to 15,000 to deploy alongside government troops.
France, which agreed to lead the expanded international force, says it will send only 200 extra troops immediately, far fewer than expected. The UN had hoped for a larger European contingent and was disappointed by France's offer. The French government has expressed concern that the mission and mandate of the force are not yet sufficiently clear and has been seeking clarification.
UNICEF Response
Health
Immunisation campaign: The consolidation of outreach data is expected to be finalised this afternoon and will be available for sharing tomorrow
WASH
The first out of the 10 water tanks ordered locally (of 4,000 litre capacity each and with improved/strengthened specifications) was delivered to Naba'a area in the Southern suburb of Beirut; water was provided by UNICEF today, but as of tomorrow the local community will take over the daily re-filling of the tank.
Child Protection
UNICEF has so far established partnerships with 18 national NGOs working in various parts of the country, thus securing psychosocial assistance outreach to approximately 210,000 children directly affected by the conflict;
Relying mainly on local NGOs in delivering assistance to affected populations, the Child Protection sub-cluster members express their concern about insufficient involvement/capacity of governmental bodies to participate effectively in sub-cluster activities;
Work continues on identifying training organizations to build capacities of animators, social workers and teachers on psychosocial support activities. Projects are being developed with those that have been identified so far, namely Right to Play and Al Jana (Arab Resource Centre for Popular Arts). Meanwhile, active networking is also taking place with international NGOs working with local partners on child protection issues.
UXO/Mine Awareness Campaign
According to the National De-mining Office, since August 14, there have been 3 deaths reported in the South of Lebanon due to UXOs/Mines; 1 adult, a 16 year old, and another teenager under the age of 13; there have also been 10 reported injuries (age not specified);
The Lebanese Army and the Mine Action Group have already begun clearing UXOs/Mines. As of August 17, the Lebanese Army has cleared UXOs in Nabatiye, Marjayoun, Baalbeck and surrounding villages, in addition to working in the southern suburbs of Beirut and the airport area, where at least three heavy capacity aircraft bombs have been defused;
UXO awareness TV spots are being shown by LBCI, Future TV, NBN, New TV, Tele Liban and will also be aired by Al-Manar TV, thus securing close to 100% coverage of the national audience; the initial duration of 58 seconds has been reduced 30 seconds so that the TV stations can broadcast it more frequently and over a longer period of time;
Radio Messages are being broadcast by Radio Liban, Radio One, RML, Sawt al Ghad, Lubnan al Horr, Sawt al Shaab, Sawt Lubnan, and Al Nour.
UXO awareness flyers: 100,000 flyers of the 1st print run are being distributed by the Lebanese Army, NGOs from the National Steering Committee and Boy Scout groups at key-road points. With at least 4 passengers in each car carrying the returnees to the South, the printed quantity should reach no less than half a million people.
UXO awareness posters: 10,000 have been printed and are being distributed by NGO members of the National Steering Committee, in particular, in all schools where there are still IDPs in the Northern region of the country.
National De-mining Office and the National Steering Committee for Mine Risk Education facilitated by UNICEF and UNDP are conducting an activity mapping exercise of "who is doing what and where" type;
National De-mining Office and the National Steering Committee for Mine Risk Education, facilitated by UNICEF and UNDP, are working on a further plan for ongoing and future action. In terms of UNICEF involvement, Mine Risk Education and Mine Victim Assistance appear as areas of continuous involvement.
IT/Telecommunications
Additional Emergency Telecommunications support staff have been requested and this process is currently underway.
A Data Communications gap analysis is ongoing based on assessments in Tyre and Sidon conducted by WFP and UNICEF. This information will be used to develop a Data Communications project plan.
Logistics
The following supplies are currently being loaded onto trucks to be dispatched tomorrow:
- 4 truck-loads of bottled water (40,000 litres) for Tyre
- 3 truck-loads of bottled water (30,000 litres) for Marjaayoun
- 1 truck-load of mixed medicine, hygiene kits and water kits for Marjaayoun
SITUATION IN SYRIA
Major Developments
Returning Refugees:
Yesterday, Lebanese refugees continued to return in high numbers, though the three border points northwest of Damascus witnessed decreasing numbers. The Yabous border (closest to Damascus) remains as the busiest crossing point for returnees.
The total number at the main borders reported by UNHCR is 107,140. An additional 10,000 refugees were also reported by the Governor of Homs to have returned through smaller border points.
While most are crossing the border with their private cars, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) and UNHCR continue to organize buses on a daily basis particularly for those who cannot afford any transportation. Yesterday, 9 buses were on standby to Beirut and Baalbeck from Damascus and 5 buses from Homs to Beirut, Tripoli and Baalbeck. UNHCR is also offering a shuttle service at Yabous border, through the no-man's-land from the Syrian checkpoint to the Lebanese side (Masnaa'), where Lebanese taxis are already waiting. The shuttle service is mainly used by groups of vulnerable refugees.
Residual caseloads
UNHCR estimates that larger numbers of Lebanese refugees remain as of now only in Saide Zaynab area (Damascus) as well as in host families with an estimate of 10-20,000.
While WFP indicated that there are 1,800 refugees still being hosted within accommodation sites.
Assessments will be carried out over the coming days regarding residual caseloads.
UNICEF Programmatic Response
Assessment
2 teams of UNICEF were sent today to the 3 border points (Jdaydet Yabous, Arida and Al Dabbousiyeh) to monitor the distribution of ORS and of UXO/mine awareness leaflets, the availability of UNICEF supply stocks (ORS, UXO/mine leaflets, wet napkins) at the borders, the functioning of latrines, and to provide detergents to cleaning services and monitor/support the Child Friendly Spaces (CFS) operation established by SARC with UNICEF support.
Needs reported so far include lady napkins and baby diapers (medium and large sizes).
Over the past 2 days, UNICEF has visited the border points to assess and monitor the situation and quality of the health services being provided to returning Lebanese as well as help in the provision and distribution of relevant UNICEF supplies to SARC, IMC and UNHCR partners when necessary.
Findings revealed that on the 3 borders, there were 2 mobile clinics and 2 ambulances managed by SARC and MOH (or IMC in one case) where 8 health workers and 2 physicians are providing emergency health services, offering an average of 10-12 consultations a day. 4 health workers are working in the mobile clinics in addition to 6 volunteers. Essential drugs are available. There are also primary healthcare centres 1-2 km away from the borders and general hospitals at a distance of 15 to 20 minutes drive.
Health
A random check at the borders suggested that children under 15 staying with their families in accommodation sites were vaccinated.
Vaccination coverage data and updated figures of refugees hosted in accommodation sites will be updated and shared by MOH in the coming few days.
WES
Latrines will be maintained at the Al Qaseer border today by an engineering team supported by UNICEF.
Detergents were also sent yesterday to the 4 border points for latrine facilities.
Education
A meeting was held yesterday with MOE regarding the rehabilitation of the schools that hosted refugees. It was agreed that MOE will send a list of these schools to UNICEF and on that basis the UNICEF WES team will assess their conditions.
A technical meeting will be held tomorrow to prepare for the assessment. Consultations will be held with MOE on Sunday. UNHCR was informed of the matter and it was agreed that UNICEF will take the lead.
Child Protection
3 CFS were established at 3 border points in cooperation with SARC (Dabbousie, Arida and Jousie).
20 recreational kits were provided yesterday to SARC to be set up within 20 CFS's, each benefiting 205 children.
The international NGO Movimondo is providing support at the borders for the establishment of the CFS.
IT/Telecommunications
MENARO is supporting the Syria Country Office with an emergency telecommunications rapid assessment to be undertaken in the coming days.
Additional funding for SCO approved to enhance its emergency telecommunications capacity.
Next Sit Rep: 19 August