Environmental 'crisis' in Lebanon

By Richard Black
Environment correspondent, BBC News website

The United Nations Environment Programme (Unep) has expressed its "grave concern" about oil pollution in Lebanese coastal waters.

An oil slick caused by Israeli bombing of the Jiyyeh power station now covers 80km (50 miles) of coast[...]

"What we have here is equivalent to a tanker sinking, and 20,000 to 30,000 tonnes reaching the shoreline," said Berj Hatjian from the Lebanese environment ministry.

"We've had it immediately rushing into the sea from the beach line," he told BBC News[...]

The group Green Line says that some of the oil has settled on the sea floor, threatening areas where tuna spawn.

It also says that slicks on beaches will prevent baby turtles from reaching the sea after they hatch.

The green turtle, whose eggs hatch in July, is an endangered species.

Unep agrees that the oil is a significant threat to some Mediterranean wildlife, but also says the slick could compromise livelihoods when the current conflict ends.

"Firstly our thoughts are with the suffering of the civilian population," said Mr Steiner.

"But we must be concerned about the short and long term impacts on the marine environment, including the biodiversity upon which so many people depend for their livelihoods and living via tourism and fishing." [Full story]