As part of the ongoing efforts to support the demining operations in Lebanon and the world, a delegation from the Mine Action Support Group (MASG), headed by Mr, Inogo Lambertini, president of Italian delegation at the United Nations, visited Lebanon in a three-day tour on 15, 16 and 17 May 2017.
The delegation included representatives of major donor countries and UN demining agencies including representatives of the American government, the French government, the Japanese government and embassy, the Italian government and embassy, Slovenian Government, UNMAS Mine Action Service in New York and Lebanon, United Nations Development Program in Istanbul and United Nations Children 's Fund UNICEF.
The tour included stations in Beirut, Mount Lebanon and the south. The aim of this visit was to keep the problem of mines in the priorities of international community and to review the activities of the Lebanese Mine Action Program and how it works.
The visit commenced with a startup station at the LMAC where the LMAC Bric General Ziad Nasr welcomed guests and briefed them on the scope of mines problem in Lebanon and the tremendous efforts exerted by LMAC to lessen the impact of the hazardous threats of mines despite constraint resources. Concurrently, the team moved to a minefield operated by DCA and listened to brief on the clearance operations performed in this field. Then they moved to the Regional School for Humanitarian demining In Lebanon (RSHDL) where they took an overview on the progress of the rehabilitation in this school and the needed resources to expedite the school equipping process.
On the second day, the team moved to RMAC in Nabatyee where the LMAC director general Bric general Ziad Nasr presented an overview on the progress of the clearance operations in Lebanon and the cleared areas reached so far. Then the delegation along with LMAC team visited UNIFIL in the south as a last station for this day.
The third day included visit to the BLUE line in Laboni, Southern Lebanon where they listened to a brief on the clearance operations done by the UNIFIL in collaboration with the LMAC in southern Lebanon. After which, the delegation ended this visit by attending a mine awareness day held in Tyre, southern Lebanon under the supervision of LMAC and active participation of MRE steering committee members. This workshop aimed to promote behavioral change among public regarding the use of mines and cluster munitions and emphasize the importance of following safety precautions measures in this context. On this occasion, LMAC took the opportunity to express the centers` persistent work to deliver an extensive mine awareness sessions at a time the clearance operations is still in need for much more resources to deliver the desired objectives.
