Background

In early 2001, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced a grant of up to USD$50 million to the Government of Lebanon (GoL) to assist mine clearance in the former occupied areas of the south. The project called “Operation Emirates Solidarity” (OES) is funded through the generosity of His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nayhan, President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Late in 2001, the UAE launched a process of tender for the completion of the work. More than twenty mine action organisations responded from which ten were short-listed. In March 2002 the UN held a briefing and orientation over a week for the ten companies, where they received briefing packs on the specifics of the work along with IMSMA maps of the OES project area. Technical advice was provided to the UAE contract specialists to ensure that the contract documents in terms of the Statements of Work was accurate and met with the UAE objectives for clearance. The UN Operations Officer for MACC SL facilitated the briefings and discussions on behalf of the UAE. Visits to the mined areas were also conducted so the physical geography and terrain could be viewed.
Following this week of briefings the companies forwarded their project details to Abu Dhabi. On request from the UAE mine action consultants from both within and outside the UN met in Abu Dhabi to review the proposals. Media coverage of the meeting of experts ensured transparency and accountability to the process. Two commercial mine action companies; BACTEC from the UK and MINETECH from Zimbabwe were selected as contractors. The designated contractual area was divided geographically into four areas: BACTEC was awarded OES1 and OES2 and MINETECH OES3 and OES4.
ArmorGroup, a British company was selected to undertake the Quality Assurance function, and the Landmine Resource Centre within the faculty of Health Sciences of the University of Balamand, Lebanon was awarded the Community Liaison contract.

The MACC SL in its tripartite component structure of the UN, the UAE represented by the UAE Armed Forces and the LAF/ NDO coordinate the operations of the project.

Completed Phases

Phases 1 and 2

The donation made by the UAE was to fund two phases of work in the four geographical areas OES1 to OES4. Phase 1 was the clearance of 288 suspected and known booby-traps located in OES1 which had been laid by the Israeli forces during the occupation, and Phase 2; the clearance of all landmines and items of unexploded ordnance from all the four sectors. The completion of these two phases was estimated to take two years, finishing in May 2004.

Phase 1 of the project was undertaken by BACTEC and commenced in November 2001. As stated, the objective of this phase was to clear known and suspected Booby Traps.This phase was completed on 8 May 2002

Phase 2 of the OES operations involved both companies and the clearance of landmines and unexploded ordnance from identified locations within OES1 to OES4. MINETECH commenced its demining activities on 6 May 2002, and BACTEC on 27 May 2002.

The geographical area for these phases covered a total of 472 square kilometres containing 92 villages in the administrative districts of Bint Jbeil, Marjayoun, Tyr and one village in Hasbaaya.
The area contained 306 minefields, and was believed to contain 58,161 landmines, predominantly anti-personnel (AP).

Completion of these phases was achieved by 26 August 2003, nine months ahead of schedule. During the sixteen months it took to complete the two phases a total of 39,656 mines and items of unexploded ordnance were located and destroyed. A total of 487 tasks were completed releasing 4,315,130 square metres of land back to its owners.

Refer to Phase 2 Statistics for details of clearance by the individual organisations.

This extraordinary achievement has been made possible by the clear and sustained commitment of the UAE to set and achieve realistic goals in a predetermined timeframe, the full cooperation and partnership of the host government, and the tasking coordination, quality assurance and technical monitoring of the UN and LAF/NDO components ensuring that all work is completed to the International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) and the national Technical Standards and Guidelines (TSG’s).

Phase 3

In early 2003 another mined and former occupied area was identified and support requested of the UAE by the GoL in anticipation of the early completion of the first two phases. By May 2002 a third phase was negotiated and agreed for clearance within the bounds of the original donation.
This phase was contracted solely to BACTEC and they commenced operations on 24 June 2003. The geographical area included the towns of El Qlaiaz, Marjayoun, Blate, Ebel Es Saqi, Rachayya-El-Foukhar, El Meri and El Khiam all contained within the administrative district of Marjayoun.

This area covered approximately 87 square kilometres of land with 75 known minefields, believed to contain 15,254 mines, again predominantly anti-personnel.

The Quality Assurance function continues to be undertaken by ArmorGroup on behalf of the UN, and the persons undertaking the Community Liaison role are now directly sub-contracted by the UN and financially supported by UNMAS.
Work went extremely well throughout this phase with excellent integration of the tools from the demining ‘tool box”. All tasks were completed and final quality assurance checks done by 24 November. A total of 20,588 mines and items of ordnance were located and destroyed during this five month period.

For statistics details refer to Phase 3 Statistics

Sweep Through

Commencing 1 December 2003 General and Technical surveys of additional areas in both the Phase 2 and Phase 3 areas were commenced under the coordination of the MACC SL Operations Department. These additional areas were suspected areas advised by the local communities through the Community Liaison Assistants.

The Quality Assurance staff members headed the Survey Teams supported by BACTEC Medics and MACC SL Community Liaison Assistants. Following the survey of these areas which was completed by mid January BACTEC commenced Technical Surveys, followed by clearance as applicable.
This phase, included as an extension of Phase 3 but dubbed the “Sweep Through” Phase is being conducted solely by BACTEC, and financially supported within the bounds of the original donation of the UAE. It is due to be completed by 31 May 2004.

The complement of BACTEC assets has been joined in April by the sixth UAE team who comprise a Technical Survey Team, a Manual Clearance Team and a Mechanical Support Team. The team arrived at the end of March, successfully completed their training which was conducted partly before their arrival into Lebanon, and were accredited for operations on 20 April. They immediately deployed to assist BACTEC with some of the remaining survey and clearance tasks of the Phase.

For statistics refer to Sweep Through Statistics

Future Plans

Discussions have already commenced at the necessary levels on the planning and defining of a fourth phase for the OES project. The fourth phase area under proposal is a populated area, large in geographical size containing potential agricultural land, and sites of historical and tourism value.
Estimates based on the known threat in the area suggest that clearance with two commercial contractors could be completed within eighteen months.

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