The ICRC continued to monitor the situation of civilians returning to Nahr el- Bared camp, in Tripoli, after the fighting there earlier this year.

At the same time, it continued its visits to different places of detention in the country. The detention team strived to re-establish and maintain the family links of those detainees who have no contact with their relatives. In that regard, 58 Red Cross Messages (RCMs) and 56 verbal greetings were exchanged between the detainees from various nationalities in Lebanese prisons and their families in Lebanon and abroad.

Family links have also been maintained between Lebanese detained in Israel after the July-August 2006 fighting and their families in Lebanon. The ICRC ensures a regular exchange of family news, including verbal greetings, RCMs and pocket money. Religious books were also sent to the detainees.

The ICRC intervened as neutral intermediary in an exchange operation – the first since the fighting in 2006 – which took place between Israel and Hezbollah on 15 October 2007. The corpse of an Israeli citizen of Ethiopian origin was repatriated from Lebanon to Israel, while the remains of two Hezbollah combatants were repatriated to Lebanon, in addition to a Lebanese detainee released from Ashmoret prison. On 29 November the ICRC and the Lebanese Red Cross (LRCS) repatriated the corpse of a Lebanese civilian who died in Israel the day before. His remains were brought across Ras Naqoura and buried by his family in Marjayoun

Water
To assist displaced persons returning to the new section of Nahr el-Bared camp, the ICRC restored the production of safe water after repairing four wells and connecting them to generators. The ICRC was given the green light to construct a new primary water distribution network, and the first trenches to lay the pipelines were dug at the end of November.

At the same time, the ICRC continued to support water boards in Lebanon, which face difficulties in securing funds for the maintenance or repair of water systems. In Kfar Melki, the ICRC equipped a well with a pump and connected it to an existing water distribution network, improving water supply for 30,000 beneficiaries. In Yohmor, the ICRC completed the construction of part of the water distribution network to cope with the expansion of the village. The construction of a new 1,000 cubic meter reservoir started at Taibé water treatment plant to replace the existing one, damaged during the 2006 conflict. The ICRC also built a 162-cubic-meter underground reservoir in Salah Randur Hospital, near Bint Jbeil, as a back-up system in case of a break in the main supply.

Health
The ICRC conducted a thorough assessment of the quality of medical care in five hospitals which are run by the Palestine Red Crescent Society–Lebanon branch (PRCS-L). In these hospitals, three ICRC experts appraised the clinical and nursing care. In addition, surgical equipment was provided to the PRCS-L hospitals, while medicines and medical kits were supplied to two clinics which have resumed functioning in Nahr el-Bared camp. The ICRC also distributed medical assistance at 40 hospitals and five dispensaries all over Lebanon.

Cooperation with partners of the Red Cross and Red Crescent remains a crucial part of ICRC activities in Lebanon. Support to the LRCS Emergency Medical Services (EMS) continued, with ICRC assisting the LRCS to hold a donors meeting focusing on progress on its five-year strategy. The International Federation and the Red Cross /Red Crescent societies of Belgium, the Netherlands, Canada, Norway, and Qatar were among those participating.

The Lebanese Red Cross Tibnine EMS station was inaugurated on 27 October 2007. The ICRC covered the cost of $160,000 for rehabilitating the building. ICRC also facilitated the donation of a new blood-mobile to the LRCS from the Swiss RC, as well as the purchase
of a new centre for LRCS EMS in Mreijeh, in the southern suburbs
of Beirut. Presentations on international humanitarian law
(IHL) and on the ICRC were given to new trainers at the LRCS annual seminar.

As part of its activities in raising awareness about IHL in academic circles, the ICRC organized a four-day training program for law students from different Lebanese universities. Its aim was to prepare a three-member team to participate in the international "Pictet Competition" on IHL.

The Commission responsible for implementing the Exploring Humanitarian Law programme in Lebanese schools took part in the 5th regional meeting organized by the ICRC in Yemen. Ten Arab countries exchanged experiences on implementation.

A refresher course on IHL was carried out for trainers at the Military Academy within its programme to train armed forces in IHL. The ICRC also organized a photo exhibition to mark 40 years of presence in Lebanon at the Glass Hall on CentralBank/Hamra street, from 7-20 December.