The ICRC in Lebanon has recently completed seven major water repair and rehabilitation projects in the south of the country and the Bekaa valley.
"These projects, which aim to improve the water infrastructure and access to water for the population, were carried out in close cooperation with the Lebanese Water Board Authorities, local communities and the Council for Development and Reconstruction," said Naji Corban, ICRC's water and habitat expert in Lebanon.
In southern Lebanon, where infrastructure was heavily damaged by the armed conflict last summer, the ICRC provided a standby electric generator for the Taybeh water treatment plant, to be installed in early January 2007. This generator, with a 1100 kVA capacity, will allow the South Lebanon Water Establishment (SLWE) to pump water from the Litani river to an upper water treatment plant which was also repaired in recent months by the ICRC. This will benefit all inhabitants of the villages in Bint Jbail Caza.
At the Marj al Khoukh well, which has a daily output of 3,500 m3 of water serving approximately 15,000 residents of Marjayoun Caza, a standby electric generator with a 550 kVA capacity was installed in the past few weeks. In Yohmor and Arnoun, the ICRC completed the rehabilitation of the water pumping station. "Out of 66 villages in Nabatieh Caza, Yohmor and Arnoun are the most deprived ones, due to lack of water resources, wells or springs, and due to their complex water supply system," said Mr. Corban.
In the Bekaa valley, the Shamsine water station, which will service 10 villages in the Al-Sharki area, was repaired by ICRC water engineers and the Bekaa Water Establishment (BWE) in recent weeks. In addition, the ICRC donated a new pump set to the BWE, providing 4,000 m3 of water per day, and a new electric control panel for the Lakkis well in Baalbeck was installed. This well can provide 2,500 m3 of water per day to the city of Baalbeck.
Global ICRC assistance provided to water production centres since 30 July 2006 benefited an estimated 419,700 inhabitants in southern Lebanon, the Bekaa region, and Beirut's southern suburbs, ensuring the provision of 47,500 m3 of water daily.
For further information, please contact:
Anna Schaaf, ICRC Beirut, + 961 1 739 297 or mobile + 961 70 12 98 69