A/HRC/3/2
page 68
6. Economy
(a)
The impact on industry, agriculture, fisheries, tourism and other sectors
295. The Lebanese economy was severely affected by the conflict, with every sector
concerned, notably, the industrial, agriculture, and fishery sectors but also the employment
situation and public finance as a whole. The effects of the war on the economy were even
accentuated as it took place at the peak of the tourist, fishing and harvest season.
296. Regarding the damage to the critical infrastructure, the damage to the land transportation
network has been provisionally estimated by the Lebanese government at US$ 337 million for
bridges and US$ 92 million for roads.258 The cost of the damage to water facilities was
estimated by the Council for Development and Reconstruction at US$ 81 million.259 The
damage to TV and radio stations is also massive.260
297. In its document prepared for the Stockholm conference, the Lebanese Government
estimated losses in the industrial sector at US$ 220 million. This figure does not take into
consideration the revenue losses incurred as a result of significant under-utilization of remaining
capacity due to electricity shortages, immobility of workers,261 and the lack of raw materials and
export possibilities caused by the sea and air blockade. These losses were estimated at up to
US$ 30 million a day.262 The Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture estimated the
direct physical damage to the manufacturing activity at some US$ 300 million.263
298. The agricultural sector has been just as severely affected. Damage to the agriculture
sector has been estimated at more than US$ 215 million.264 The Lebanese Government made
reference to a rough estimate which showed that no one in the South and Nabatiye Mohafazas,
which represent 30 per cent of the country’s agricultural holders, was spared the effects while
60 per cent of farmers were affected to varying degrees in the Bekaa and 25 per cent affected in
the Mohafazas of North and Mount Lebanon.265 This is particularly worrying considering that,
across Lebanon, FAO estimates that agriculture provides direct employment for 9 per cent of the
Lebanese population, but another 40 per cent of the population is involved in work that is
indirectly related to agriculture.266 Major losses occurred during the conflict as farmers could
not access their fields as they fled their village and left the crops unattended. Mostly cited losses
were in relation to tobacco, fruits and vegetables.267
299. In addition to these immediate effects, a long-term effect in the agricultural sector is that
caused by the launch of cluster bombs.268 UNMACC expects the percentage of agricultural land
contaminated to rise as new cluster bomb strike locations are identified. Unexploded ordnance
keeps farmers out of their fields and unable to prune their trees in preparation for next year’s
harvest. More than 7 per cent (35 sq. km) of grasslands, used for animal grazing, is
contaminated. The banks and beds of 173 streams and rivers in south Lebanon are contaminated,
putting shepherds and farmers at risk. It was reported to the Commission that some farmers
desperate to get their land back into use are de-mining themselves by setting fires around UXO
with the obvious danger that this brings with it. The reference made earlier by the Special
Rapporteur on the right to food, clearing the land of these unexploded bombs is essential to
enable the reconstruction of livelihoods.269
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