Introduction
The Republic of Lebanon is an Arabic country located in the Middle East where it is bordered by Syria to the north and east while Israel is located on its south. It is also bordered by the vast Mediterranean Sea to the west where the coastline stretches 225 kilometers. Its location ensures that the country enjoys a rich history characterized by early civilization and Arab culture. The capital city of Lebanon is Beirut and the country’s population is estimated at more than 4.5 million people. However, persistent problems mainly conflict with its neighbors and civil strife fuelled by armed groups in the country has led to slow growth in economic growth and development. Moreover, the country has been by calamities such as natural disasters such as floods, economic downturns, and environmental calamities that have resulted in massive destruction of property and loss of lives. This essay will discuss the problems that have rocked Lebanon in the recent past.
Major environmental and ecological problems
The Republic of Lebanon has been plagued by various problems which threaten its development. Environmental pollution and deterioration in the world have elicited much concern from environmental watchdogs and the public. Lebanon has not been spared from this vice owing to its industries which are among the main contributors, especially in the greater Beirut area. Air, water, and land pollution are the main types of pollution that have rocked Lebanon. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) noted that the impact of environmental deterioration is hard to quantify owing to the magnitude of its effects. Many deaths and human suffering have resulted from the disorders brought by the effects of pollution. Diseases commonly associated with environmental pollution are mainly respiratory infections, water-borne diseases, and cancers which lead to many premature deaths.
Water pollution particularly in south Lebanon along the Mediterranean Sea has hit the fishing industry hard. According to Inter Press Service, the southerners have been affected by pollution and oil spills which have resulted in difficult and unsanitary living conditions. The port of Ouiza has seen its beaches littered with tones of garbage and oil spills which render the area inhabitable. The Inter Press Service noted that the region had eight dumping sites which were not properly managed thus causing huge and irreparable damage to the environment. The most visible and damaging is the huge Costa Brava dumping ground where most of the wastes from the neighboring towns are dumped by politically connected individuals. The wastes find its way into the sea where it interferes with fishing by entangling the fishing nets.
The sea is also polluted by the release of sewage from the two million inhabitants and industrial waste that flows directly without adequate treatment to remove traces of heavy metals and other compounds. More importantly, the fishing practices employed by the Lebanese fishermen also account for environmental destruction since they do not encourage the regeneration of fauna and flora. The use of dynamite fishing method and substandard mesh net that catch small sizes of fish are among the practices. Oil spills from the bombed Jiweh power plant and the anticipated spills from the Panamanian ship that sank in December 2009 have worsened the situation in the Lebanon coastline (Alami). The plant was estimated to have released more than 25000 tonnes of oil into the eastern side of the Mediterranean Sea. The oil spill caused massive and extended damage which was thought to have affected the neighboring countries particularly Cyprus and turkey. The oil spill led to large-scale deaths of marine fish and threatened the existence of fauna and flora in the sea. Although the oil spill was cleared after weeks of inaction, the effects will be felt in the next 10 years (UNEP). The delay in a clearing was caused by a lack of enough resources to launch a concerted control program and the continuous bombing by the Israel troops.
The magnitude of the damage to the habitat, the coastline, and the economy made the government declare the oil spill as the worst ecological disaster in Lebanon history. According to Black, the cost to the economy was estimated at $230 million while the real cost to the economic livelihoods in the medium and long-term effects may not be easily quantified. Nevertheless, the oil spill was controlled with the assistance of the United Nations and other donor countries before extensive and irreversible damage occurred. Tonnes of thickening materials were utilized to contain the slick. The effects that are believed to plague the country in the next 10 years include bioaccumulation of heavy metals which may result in harmful health effects as witnessed in Japan where mercury spills led to bioaccumulation in fish. The tourism sector also suffered a lot owing to the oil traces being driven by the waves into the coastline. Beaches became inhabitable thus putting away the potential domestic and foreign tourists while at the same time denying the southerners to make a living from selling fish and ornaments to the tourists (Black).
Air pollution has become one of the greatest challenges in developing countries. Beirut and the other Lebanese cities continue to experience poor air quality. The main contributors are the transportation industry and the industrial sector. The vehicles, buses, and trucks are responsible for the brownish haze that is spotted in Mount Sannine and the heavy smog that engulfs the major towns. It’s not uncommon to find city residents choking in exhaust fumes particularly in road junctions and major passageways.
Another contributor to air pollution is the persistent conflicts that target industries, forests, factories, and thermal plants. It is estimated that more than 25000 tonnes of oil burned after the bombing of the Jewish power station while thousands of hectares were burned down after bombs hit the indigenous Lebanese forests (UNEP 45). A thick cloud of smoke riddled with oil remains was evident in the combat areas and more in the surroundings of the Jiweh power station. The same situation was replicated in the Beirut international airport where more than 400000 tonnes were burned releasing fumes that caused serious environmental and health effects. The 2006 conflict is believed to have caused massive pollution due to the combustion of fuels and chemicals stored in the industries. A lot of carbon monoxide, methane, soot, particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and other toxic fumes were released as a result of the combustion (UNEP 45). According to Newell, Lebanon was ranked 90th out of the 149 countries which were involved in the 2008 Environmental Performance Index (EPI). Particulate matter and exhaust fumes from vehicles and industries are the main pollutants in the Lebanon atmosphere.
The air quality in Lebanon is worsened by the combination of its climate and the extensive pollution levels from human activities (Newell para 5). Air pollution is believed to cause serious economic and health effects to the Lebanese people (UNEP 45). High numbers of airborne related diseases consume a lot of the residents’ savings while at the same time causing strain to the healthcare system in Lebanon (Newell para 8-9). According to UNEP, an increase of 10 PPP in the atmosphere translated to adverse effects for the Lebanese (45). An estimated 2800 emergency room visits and 3000 admissions and more than 80 deaths occur as a result of the rise (Salpie, Nuwayhid & Chaaban chap 4). Some efforts have been made to rectify the situation in Lebanon owing to the persistent lobbying and campaigning done by the green line organization. Regular and systematic monitoring of pollution levels has helped the employment of small-scale mitigation measures in the country. However, lack of political will becomes the major hindrance to the achievement of meaningful reforms and regulations on pollution.
Land pollution is another major problem that the Lebanon government has failed to sensitize the people. This is perpetuated by the random dumping of kitchen wastes and garbage in the roadsides and estates. The failure to utilize basic and inexpensive methods of waste management has led to the piling of wastes in the major cities.
The effects of this illegal dumping include high levels of odors and anesthetic sights in the urban and rural areas. The improper dumping of large wastes is also responsible for harboring pests and vectors that spread germs that cause serious diseases in humans (UNEP).
The pesticides and other chemicals used in agricultural practices cause cancers and organ failures in farmers and affect the reproductive patterns of the animals thus threatening their existence. The pesticides also leach causing groundwater pollution thus interrupting the natural cycle of water. The laxity on the part of authorities in handling violators has impacted negatively in controlling the extent of pollution. However, the introduction of taxation measures and minimal recycling measures has helped in reducing the pollution menace (Picow para 8). The 2006 conflict also led to ecological injuries to Beirut and adjoining areas. Tonnes of hazardous are still deeply buried in the bombed zones where chemicals and fuel gushed from these facilities and found their way into the ground. It is believed that the bombing of Beirut airport resulted in the burying of toxic chemicals and tonnes of unexploded ordinances in the south of Beirut (UNEP 160).
Other environmental problems that Lebanon experiences include groundwater contamination, solid waste management, inadequate and damaged wastewater and sanitation infrastructure and hazardous waste contamination (UNEP). Solid waste management is a major problem due to the lack of proper legislation framework.
The collapse of the Sidon municipality garbage dump in 2008 caused to an environmental emergency in south Lebanon. About 150 tonnes of waste was swept into the sea by storms and earthquakes. The extent of pollution was not immediately known while pollution reduction measures took time to implement due to the persistent storms. The sanitation infrastructure in the southern Lebanon is inadequate leading to release of untreated waste water directly into the sea thus posing risk to marine life (UNEP 46). The hospitals in Lebanon do not have the required equipment and facilities to effectively manage the hazardous health care waste (UNEP 45). This has resulted in reckless dumping which is compounded by bombings that bring them to the surface. This scenario is responsible for the surface and ground water contamination evident during storms. Ground water contamination occurred in Tyre when Ghabris detergent factory was bombed leading to large scale chemical spill that contaminated soil and water (UNEP 160).
Lebanon is vulnerable to catastrophic disasters such as floods, earthquakes, forest fires, windstorms and land slides due to its location and geography. The natural disasters have cost the country more than 600 lives and directly affected more than 100, 000 people over the last three decades. The worst disaster was in 1955 when floods claimed 440 lives. The 1992 windstorm left massive destruction which affected the 20000 Lebanese families and claimed more than 25 lives (The OFDA/CRED International Disaster Database).
Serious forest fires occurred in the summer of 2009 where more than 15 million square meters of cover were razed. Most of these fires are started by farmers who burn their land before planting. The calamities are worsened by the windy and too dry weather conditions that are witnessed in Lebanon during the summer period. More importantly, the forest cover is been depleted in unprecedented way particularly during the war conflicts that resulted in bombing of several thousands hectares. The destruction also consumed most of the treasured cedar groves which are believed to have existed in the historical biblical times. The Lebanese is usually left helpless owing to lack of technocrats to fly the limited numbers of helicopter that are pivotal in the control and monitoring of the fires (Picow para 3). Fires are contributors of air pollutants particularly when they occur in large scale.
Earthquakes are not new to Lebanon with the historians arguing that Beirut has been grounded seven times in its history. The most catastrophic earthquake took place in 1759 with a magnitude of 7.4 and claimed thousands of lives and brought the city of Beirut to the ground. The latest earthquake hit Lebanon on 1st march, 2010 which registered 3.8 on the Richter scale. The quake was felt 50 kilometres along the Sidon coastline but caused no damage and loss of lives. Lebanon is vulnerable to earthquakes because of its location. The minutes shocks produced annually by the Yammouneh fault and the Mount Lebanon thrust lines are responsible for the earthquakes. Other factors include its location between the Arabic and African tectonic plates. Scientists believe the current lull in earthquake activity could be due to seismic cycle processes.
The Lebanese government has put several seismic monitor centres to help in the prediction of major earthquakes with the aim of averting massive loss of lives and property. The seismic activity centres are on high alerts particularly after the recent huge earthquakes in Haiti, Turkey and Chile that have led to losses worth billions of dollars. There is also the proposition by the scientists that a huge earthquake is imminent owing to the end of the 1500 years cycle since the last disastrous earthquake of the 551 A.D (National geographic news 1). It is therefore expected that Lebanon will experience several earthquakes, albeit of small magnitudes, in the year 2010. According to the National Geographic News, the faults responsible are found deep in the Meditererrean Sea. Experts have advised the people to build houses which can withstand high magnitude earthquakes especially along the coastline (National Geographic News).
Windstorms are evident in Lebanon which has led to loss of property and lives. Damage and destruction of buildings are not uncommon with many lives being lost. Windstorms have been blamed for bringing down airplanes which claim many lives. Recently, the wife of an ambassador and tens of others were killed when an Ethiopian bound airbus crashed due to wind storms. The windstorms lead to visibility problems leading to disruption of transport systems (BBC news). The storms also play a bigger role in dispersing and spreading pollutants to several areas buoyed by the topography of Lebanon. The latest stormy weather was reported in February 2010 where snows and storms were expected at around 700 meters and temperature ranges of 6 to 13 degrees Celsius. Major disruptions lasting several days have been witnessed in Lebanon caused by widespread windstorms.
Regular flooding occurs in Lebanon due to the huge amounts of conventional rainfall and storms. The floods lead to traffic jams and destruction of buildings with weak structures. The storms are also believed to fuel the spread of water borne diseases particularly during the previous four epidemics that rocked south and north Lebanon. Diseases commonly transmitted include typhoid, hepatitis and dysentery. The floods carry waste water from the towns draining into rivers thereby exposing humans to diseases. There is widespread presence of bacteriological pollution in all major sources of waters around the year. The inadequacy of solid and liquid waste systems exposes the ground and surface waters to pollution.
Solutions
The environmental problems facing Lebanon need urgent action in order to avoid further destruction of marine and human life. Concerted efforts to minimize the pollution and multilevel approaches must be applied. National efforts are pivotal in the setting of clear policies and mandates that will b instrumental; in guiding the whole process. A thorough framework for enforcing environmental laws and regulations should be devised particularly in containing the solid waste menace in major towns. Enacting and enforcing the laws will assure the resident minimal pollution levels and industries taken responsible for pollution.
This will lead to application of polluter pay principle thus ensure the industries are charged for the clearance of the pollutants. The use of alternative and renewable energy sources such as wind and hydro power that do not release pollutants of harmful nature must be embraced (UNEP).
The utilization of advanced technology in the treatment of sewage will be useful in averting the release of raw sewage and industrial waste water effluents into the sea. Use of proper and cost effective waste disposal methods would also play a big role in helping alleviating the waste problem. This can also be enhanced by the application of reduce, recycle and reuse (3R’S) process that employs a multifaceted approach in solid waste control. The environmental conservation campaign can be integrated in the green life awareness with the aim of maximizing on the achievement of the campaign.
Regular and continuous monitoring of seismic activity should be enhanced with the aim of predicting the occurrence of the earthquakes. Laying down of intensive emergency plans is also imperative to reducing human suffering during the post disaster era (National geographic news 1). The conflicts in Lebanon seem to add to the environmental problem witnessed within its territorial boundaries. Proper mechanisms must be put in place to allow for diplomatic ways of solving their disputes. The meteorological department should provide accurate and regular forecast on the occurrence of windstorms and floods so that the people can be well equipped to mitigate the effects.
Conclusion
Lebanon, like any other country, is faced with ecological disasters and environmental problems which have negative impacts to the economy and human population. Over reliance in imports has led to the proliferation of substandard products which have a short shelf life. This adds to the waste load particularly the highly reactive electromagnetic wastes in the country. The economic cost of clearing the waste is enormous compared to the value of the imported products
Floods, pollution and windstorms have caused a lot of destruction and loss of lives. Air and water pollution which occur as a result of costly conflicts with the neighbours have threatened the existence of marine and human life. The bombing of Jiweh led to the most catastrophic ecological disaster in Lebanon history. It caused huge economic loss to the country and its full impact is expected to be felt in the next 10 years. Lebanon is prone to earthquakes due to its location with a huge one likely to strike any time soon. The Lebanese authorities have put seismic activity monitors to ensure minimal destruction and loss of lives in the event of earthquakes. The Lebanese authorities have put minimal measures to mitigate the country from the effects of these disasters. More measures at individual and organizational level are required to mitigate the effects of these disasters. It is only through concerted efforts that effectiveness in minimisation of destruction due to disasters will be achieved.
Works Cited
Alami, Mona. ‘’Coastal Pollution Threatens Fisher folk.’’ Inter Press News 2010. Web.
Black, Richard. ‘’Environmental ‘crisis’ in Lebanon. ’’ BBC News 2006. Web.
Inter Press Service.’’Coastal pollution threatens Lebanon’s fishermen.’’ Daily Star 2010. Web.
National Geographic News. ‘’Major Quake, Tsunami Likely in Middle East, Study Finds’’. 2007. Web.
Newell, David. ‘’Air supply: The air quality in Lebanese cities leaves some choked up’’. NOW 2008. Web.
Picow, Maurice. ‘’Lebanon’s Environment Inaction May Affect Entire’’. Green Prophet News 2010. Web.
Salpie S., Djoundourian, Nuwayhid, Iman and Chaaban, Farid. ‘’Quantification of health impact of air pollution in a developing country’’. International Journal of Applied Environmental Sciences 8. (2007): 21-26. Web.
The OFDA/CRED International Disaster Database. Top 10 disasters in Lebanon. 2003. Web.
UNEP – United Nations Environmental Programme. Lebanon: Post-Conflict Environmental Assessment. Nairobi: UNEP, 2007. Print.