Date : 08/2006

Country/Region : LEBANON

Title : ICRC action for water supply in South Lebanon

Duration : 00:05:02

Director : VERVAEKE, Aurore; BJÖRGVINSSON, Jón

Cameraman : BJÖRGVINSSON, Jón

Editor : unknown

Keyword : INTERVIEW; RUINS; WATER AND SANITATION; TESTIMONY; RESTORING SERVICES; WATER SUPPLY; DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY

Person appearing :
VERMEIREN, Bart (delegate, ICRC)
ETIENNE, Yves

Confidentiality level : public

Publication restrictions : publication without restrictions

Copyright : ICRC

Production company : ICRC

ICRC producer :
none

Description : The infrastructure of Southern Lebanon was heavily damaged in the war that ended in a cease fire on the 14th of August. Both the electricity and waters systems were seriously touched and getting them up and running is now a priority for the population that sat out the war or has moved back. The public health is at stake, so restoring electricity and water is now a priority for the authorities. The problems are linked. Although the water distribution
system needs major reparations in some places it’s mainly the lack of electricity that has stopped the water pumps in other places. The International Committee of the Red Cross, whose international mandate is to assist populations caught in armed conflicts, is working closely with the water authorities in Southern Lebanon, sponsoring reparation teams and shipping in the necessary pipes, fittings and equipment to get the water running again as fast as possible to as many as possible. Where only fuel is needed for generators to power up the pumps ICRC has been providing fuel tankers and 250 thousand liters of fuel. In other cases where generators were either damaged or not installed, the ICRC has stepped in by transporting huge generators to important water distribution pumps. One of them is being installed at the Saddeqine water pumping facility. It’s installation will make it possible to pump water again to 130— 150 thousand users that have now been left without vital running water, some for one and a half month. But it is not enough to get the pumps running, once they start, water tends to rush out in places where it is not intended. A pipe after pipe and a leak after leak has to be fixed by the workers in this war torn region before the vital fluid can again reach the homes of southern Lebanon.

Original language : International soundtrack

English title : ICRC action for water supply in South Lebanon

Colour/B&W : colour

Original material/format : DVCam

Best material/format available : DVCam