Beirut mount lebanon water establishment bmlwe, litani river authority lra, the council for development and reconstruction cdr, and the ministry of environment moe. It is the main water source for irrigation in the bekaa valley. Never before have we come across an author who has put so. The seven years ambitious plan is divided into four. The battle for litani river was among the hardest fought of the operation, and despite being awarded four military crosses, two distinguished conduct medals, a military medal and two.
Litani basin of increased incidence of cancer and other infectious diseases has lead communities to mobilize against river pollution. The 170kmlong litani is lebanons longest river with an annual average water flow of around 750 mcm. The asiorontes and hasbani rivers are transboundary rivers, while the litani river flows entirely within lebanon. This page was last edited on 2 october 2017, at 01. With a total length of 170 km it is the longest river in lebanon. In response, the government launched a usd 730 million project for cleaning up the litani in 2016. Amin shaban mouin hamze editors the litani river, lebanon. Water accounting in the litani river basin remote sensing for water. Equally important, however, is the fact that development of the litani basin might very well be a necessary action to thwart israeli designs over this entirely lebanese water system. The source of lake qaraoun, the litani river meaning. Elias hawi, head of water resources department at lra, mr. A 2011 study by the ministry found four major sources of pollution in the river basin and qaraoun lake, a manmade reservoir in the upper stretch of the river. The 5,000 m3day aitanit wwtp, near qaraoun lakedam, where the upper litani river ends, serves the four villages of qaraoun, mashghara, aitanit and baaloul, which have a combined. Exceeding 140 km in length, the litani river is the longest.
The underlying issues of the litani basin and its sociopolitical impacts are so complex that the present status quo of the present fragmented responsibilities will not ensure the environmental sustainability of this important basin. Water resources within the upper orontes and litani basins. The litani river is divided into two subbasins with its upper basin stretching from the north of the bekaa plain to the qaraaoundam,wherea lake8km2 exists. Litani river raid no11commando 910 june 1941 in vichy french syria. Its lowersubbasin extendsfrom thedamalongqeliavillagedownto qasmieh where it outlets into the sea north to tyre city fig. Pdf this article examines the hydropolitics of the middle east, through a case study of the litani river of lebanon. Bassam jaber consultant and former director general at the moew, ms. Litani river authority created by a law dated on 14 august 1954 and rectified later on 30 december 1955. This article examines the hydropolitics of the middle east, through a case study of the litani river of lebanon. Previous attempts at river protection were proven futile until the issuing of law 77 of the water code on april. Cedar forests once covered much of lebanon but today cover less than 5 percent of the country. Litani river lebanontourismlebanon tourism, discover.
The main problem in cleaning up litani river pollution. Wapor annual precipitation mmyr for the litani river basin. Nabil amacha, head of water monitoring and environmental studies, mr. However, the litani river, whose entire basin is in lebanon fig. Twenty years ago, the river started to get severely polluted due to factories and household wastes being dumped in the stream in the river causing many health problems for locals. The litani river basin is essential for agriculture, urban development, industry in lebanon and suffers from widespread water pollution due to lack of pollution regulation and enforcement, few operable wastewater treatment facilities, and environmentally damaging agricultural practices. Execute the hydraulic electrical power generation and electrical networks between powerhouse and electrical distribution networks in all lebanese regions. The litani river, the countrys longest, runs through that valley.
Water quality of the upper litani river basin, lebanon. This famous river is contaminated, and needs to be cleaned up, and litani river pollution has been one of the main highlighted topics in the news over the past weeks. Other important rivers include the orontes river, which is shared with. The litani river raid was, initially, a commando operation to capture intact a key bridge in vichy french syria, just. Litani river authority was established under the law dated august 14, 1954 amended on december 30, 1955. Equally important, however, is the fact that development of the litani basin might very well be a necessary action. Bottles for sampling were supplied by 2% of nitric acid to acidified ph pdf download.
The litani is the largest river in lebanon in length and width, with a length reaching 170 km and a watr capacity of 750 m3 per year. Jul 19, 2016 the once roaring waters of litani river are choking in feces. In contrast to the main plan, the cotton plan called for outofbasin transfers to the coastal plain and the negev. Lions in greek which rises in the bekaa and empties into the mediterranean sea north of tyre has changed its colors over the years from crystal blue to murky brown, threatening populations over its 140 km stretch. Advisor for the area north of the litani river, andor the designated official and chief security officer for the area south of the litani river. Exceeding 140 km in length, the litani river is the longest river in lebanon and. The litani river the classical leontes is an important water resource in southern lebanon. The development of the litani river basin will figure highly in this strategy. The litani river, draining the southern half of lebanons bekaa valley, is a major source of electricity, agricultural output, and drinking water for the nation. The first three river basins cover about 45 percent of the country. Commission implementing decision on the annual action. Execute the litani river master plan for irrigation, drainage and domestic water. The battle for litani river was among the hardest fought of the operation, and despite being awarded four military crosses, two distinguished conduct medals, a military medal and two mentions in dispatches, for their courage and bravery at litani river it was clear that within days of the commando returning to cyprus it was likely to be.
Litani river mt tabor hamath the inheritance of naphtali area map anean sea a jerusalem amman madaba beersheba megiddo hatzor helbon berytus sidon gaza shechem tiberias. The underlying issues of the litani basin and its sociopolitical impacts are so complex that the. Its role and contribution to civilmilitary coordination were perceived as pivotal for the humanitarian community at large. Due to the crisis in syria, hundreds of thousands of refugees have flooded into these two basins. Lions, is an important water resource in southern lebanon.
The river rises in the fertile beqaa valley, west of baalbek, and empties into the mediterranean sea north of tyre. This article examines the hydropolitics of the middle. In 2014, the lebanese ministry of environment moe and the u n development programme undp assessed the impact of syrian conflict on the lebanese. The litani river lebanon an assessment and current challenges by. Since its establishment, the litani river authority was considered to be a public institution whose functions are identified as follows. The river rises in the fertile beqaa valley valley, west of baalbek, and empties into the mediterranean sea north of tyre. Unifil generally enjoyed freedom of movement throughout its area of operations, carrying out approximately 9,000 to 10,000 patrols each month. Bottles for sampling were supplied by 2% of nitric acid to acidified ph litani is the largest river in lebanon in length and width, with a length reaching 170 km and a watr capacity of 750 m3 per year. Pdf this article examines the hydropolitics of the middle east, through a case. For the litani river, a business plan to identify the measures to alleviate pollution in the river and the belonging qaraoun reservoir, was framed in 2006 and followed by an updated plan in 20.
Technical land survey and studies of dams on north. Taking stock of cost of environmental degradation in lebanon 41 5. Never before have we come across an author who has put so much into a book in terms of thorough research and for a firsttime author ian serves the deceased and remaining commandos and their families the respect. Pdf water quality of the upper litani river basin, lebanon. Could recent action end decades of pollution in lebanons. Implement the litani irrigation, drying, drinking water and electricity projects. It constitutes 5% to 10% of overall production, food fish. Water accounting in the litani river basin food and agriculture. Its catchment area is about 2 180 km2, equal to some 20 percent of the total area of the. This was echoed by the prime minister a couple of days later, when he said, the pollution of the litani river has become a national cause, and the government has allocated large amounts of. Lebanons climate is influenced by the mediterranean sea. The litani river basin occupies about a quarter of lebanons surface area. The 5,000 m3day aitanit wwtp, near qaraoun lakedam, where the upper litani river ends, serves the four villages of qaraoun, mashghara, aitanit and baaloul, which have a combined estimated population of 28,000 to 32,000.
Eutrophication of litani river, the most important water resource in lebanon. Litani river is a very educational read and brings to the fore one of the many lifecostly military deployments of world war ii. Exceeding 140 km in length, the litani river is the longest river in lebanon and provides an average annual flow estimated at 920 million cubic meters. In contrast to the main plan, the cotton plan called for outofbasin transfers to the. Nasser nasrallah, president of the association of ibrahim abdel al, mr.
Shallowdraft vessels can penetrate 60 miles 100 km upstream from the rivers mouth. Idf liaison cell and ii one person into unifil south of the litani river. The seven years ambitious plan is divided into four components. Eutrophication of litani river, the most important water resource in lebanon, national concern. Chapter 18 antilebanon executive summary the antilebanon mountain range is located at the lebanesesyrian border between the bekaa plain in the west and the damascus. The main draining river in lebanon, the litani river is the most. Litani river formed a homogenous subset characterized by eutrophic conditions 54. The country has cedar, pine, and cypress trees as well as olive, citrus, apple, and banana trees. An assessment and current challenges is a muchawaited publication that con. River in lebanon flowing entirely within lebanon, the litani rises in the biqa valley and flows south between the lebanon mountains to the west and the antilebanon mountains. The litani river raid was, initially, a commando operation to capture intact a key bridge in vichy french syria, just prior to the arrival of australian forces sent in to occupy the country. Flowing entirely within lebanon, the litani rises in the biqa valley and flows south between the lebanon mountains to the west and the antilebanon mountains to the east until nabatiya, where it turns sharply to the west crosses lebanon and empties into the mediterranean sea.
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