The spill, caused by Israeli missile attacks on a Lebanese power plant in the coastal town of Jiyye (south of Beirut), resulted in the release of an estimated 17,000 tons of oil into the Mediterranean Sea, ultimately affecting some 150 kilometers of coastline in Lebanon and Syria. The incident is considered Lebanon’s worst-ever environmental disaster.

The United Nations Environment Program lead an effort to help clean up and contain the 87-mile-long slick, pledging 50 million Euros ($65 million) in August 2006.

In addition to the U.N. lead effort, a team of American and Lebanese workers has completed the cleanup of over 100 kilometers of contaminated coastline in Lebanon, stretching from Byblos to Enfeh.

The Lebanese Ministry of Environment joined with resources provided by USAID that included experts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Response and Restoration; the State Department’s Bureau of Oceans, Environment and Science; the U.S. Coast Guard and the Environmental Protection Agency also provided advice.

As part of the project, American workers trained more than 220 local Lebanese laborers, including fishermen, to perform critical clean up functions. Workers removed more than 36,000 bags of oil-contaminated waste from the coastline and targeted historic and economically critical areas for cleanup efforts.

Local Lebanese businesses also provided and operated heavy equipment and offered support services.

Areas affected by the oil spill lay less than 32 kilometers from Beirut, and included commercial harbors, public beaches and historic sites. Workers removed oil and oil-saturated material over half a meter deep from a trench at the Citadel of Anfeh, also known as “Raas Anfeh.” The trench was built for the eastside defense of the citadel, a structure that dates back to the Crusaders of the 12th century.

In the port of Byblos, a United Nations World Heritage Site, workers cleaned and repainted more than 100 damaged fishing boats. Byblos is one of the oldest continuously inhabited ports in the world, dating back 7,000 years to early Phoenician society, according to USAID. Those currently living there expressed gratitude for the cleanup effort.

“We, as citizens of Byblos, are glad for feeling the excellent human relation that happened spontaneously between both Lebanese and Americans,” the general manager of a Byblos hotel said. “We will be more than happy to keep contact with you, as true friends and welcome guests in a peaceful and clean Byblos in Lebanon.”

Pictures of the clean up

This picture from October 17 shows oily water at the small port of Dalieh, in West Beirut. (Picture by Wael Hmaidan)

Oil solidifies when it sinks underwater and forms a carpet when it hits the sea bed. The clean-up underwater and on the shore is being done by the Sea of Lebanon Association (Bahr Loubnan) in conjunction with the Rafik Hariri Foundation. (Picture by Mohamed al-Sarji)

The oil is easier to remove from a sandy seabed than from a rocky sea floor. Most of this work has been done by hand. This picture, by the diving team leader, Mohamad al-Sarji, was taken at the start of the cleaning procedure. A team of Italian divers is also using suction equipment to try to remove oil from rocky areas.

Fishermen who were badly affected by the war and Israel's sea blockade of Lebanon have been employed to clean the beaches. The Sea of Lebanon Association is paying the fishermen $50 a day for their cleaning work. (Picture by Wael Hmaidan)

These plastic barrels are full of the semi-solid oil collected from the bottom of the sea. They are being stored temporarily at the site of the bombed out Jiyyeh power plant. (Picture by Wael Hmaidan)

These fishermen at Raouche Bay in Beirut seem unconcerned about the continuing pollution in the bay. (Picture by Wael Hmaidan)

Sources: Ya Libnan, GreenPeace, UNEP, BBC, USAID, New York Times