USAID completes clean-up along northern seashore
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/Lebanon successfully completed the cleanup of 43 different locations along a 60-kilometer stretch of the northern seashore from Tabarja to Enfeh. These sites were selected in close coordination with the Environment Ministry, a statement by the agency said Saturday.
The $5.8 million project, which started in September 2006, was beneficial environmentally as well as economically. During the project, over 220 local laborers were hired to support the clean-up using local machinery, equipment, caterers and transporters.
Over 100 fishermen”s boats were rapidly cleaned at the Byblos Port Jetty, allowing the fishermen to resume fishing quickly so they could generate income for their families.
Following the clean-up, several tourist areas, marinas, hotels and beach resorts were able to resume their normal activities. USAID collected approximately 1,300 cubic meters of oil-contaminated waste and 1,500 cubic meters of oil-contaminated sand from all locations.