The Operators engaged in post 2006 war clearance in south of Lebanon, including FSD, have been awarded the Nansen Refugee this year, for the efficient and courageous work done by more than 1,000 national staff. Overall, during two years, 39 millions of square meters of land have been released and over 125,000 Cluster Munitions have been found and destroyed. Flattered by the recognition of the international community for being awarded a price gone in the past to Eleanor Roosevelt, Médecins Sans Frontières, Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, Luciano Pavarotti and Graça Machel and others, we unfortunately need to point that the problem is not solved at this stage. At least 12 millions of square meters more of confirmed contamination while interest of donors to fund the remaining tasks suddenly diminished drastically.

How come funding is drying out now? Lebanon is one of the affected countries from where the process leading to the Oslo Treaty to Ban Cluster Munitions took origin. It has been visited by any relevant authority we can name, studied, analyzed, put under stress to reach goals to support the Oslo treaty, to be used as an example of response and pragmatic approach to the problem of contamination.

The Swiss Foundation for Mine Action (FSD) contributed to this effort since the start with up to 80 national and international experts, initially with ECHO, later with EC funding. Still in September 2008, FSD assumed together with the EC delegation in Beirut that funding would be extended until at June 2009. This funding stream however was suddenly interrupted.

FSD is now urgently looking for some required funding which will allow to continue work on the ground until the confidence with the donor community is re-established and the operations can be completed.

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CORRIGENDUM:

From previous FSD communications on this subject, some readers gained the impression that this funding crisis was due to coordination problems between the National Authorities (LMAC) and FSD or UN in general.

We confirm that our relation with the LMAC at any time of our operations in Lebanon has been governed by full mutual transparency and confidence as well as professionalism on both sides. FSD appreciates the very high and professional support which the LMAC, along with UNDP, has always provided to our teams as well as all other mine action operators in Lebanon. We have concentrated all our fundraising efforts during the past months and weeks out of uncompromised solidarity with the affected Lebanese Communities in the South as well as the competent national authorities.

We therefore appologize for misinterpretations which might have arisen from our previous publications.