LEBANON: Power shortages could last months in south

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

"TAYBEH, 3 Sep 2006 (IRIN) - Thirty-four days of Israeli bombardment have left many residential areas in south Lebanon without power. Towns and villages, particularly those nearest the border with Israel, are strewn with damaged power lines along the roads.

During the course of the conflict, Israel carried out aerial attacks on approximately 7,000 targets in Lebanon. A number of these bombing raids destroyed power stations, sub-stations and transformers.

Israel says it was targeting “terrorist infrastructure”.

"At home, we're living by candlelight," said a man from Taybeh, near Qantara, who did not want to be named. There is one generator in the town square, which they say was donated by the Iranian government. "It's all very well. But it's only enough to serve the homes and shops in the centre. As for the rest of us, there's no electricity at all, day or night."

Damaged or destroyed power supply lines have various implications for the recovery of south Lebanon. "People returning to their homes in the south with the intention to stay may be unable to given the severe shortage of power," said White, adding that the likelihood of the creation of new internally displaced people will be exacerbated by the onset of winter."