Lebanese oil clean-up plan

Beirut: The International Maritime Organisation and the United Nations have agreed a Eu50m action plan to assist Lebanese authorities with a clean-up plan for the 10-15,000 tonnes of oil that has leaked into the Mediterranean from a bombed power station south of Beirut.

The pollution is estimated to have affected 150 kilometres of coast line reaching as far north as Syria Although IMO's traditional role is dealing with shipborne pollution it has a role in this disaster through the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation. The plan has been prepared by an expert working group under the supervision of UNEP and the Lebanese Environment minister.