The ICRC visits detainees held by the Lebanese authorities to monitor their living conditions and the manner in which they are treated. Another ICRC priority is to help people separated from their families restore and maintain contact with them. The ICRC has on many occasions played its role of neutral intermediary by facilitating the repatriation of detainees and mortal remains from Israel to Lebanon and vice versa.

In its assistance work the organization puts emphasis on health, economic security and water and sanitation programmes that serve the civilian population.

The organization seeks to ensure that the government, all political parties, the military, security forces and armed groups present in the country comply with international humanitarian law.

The delegation remains ready to respond to the needs of the victims in the event of a sudden resurgence of armed violence.

Presence (2009): 60 staff, including 18 expatriates

Our world. Your move in Lebanon

Special features from Lebanon

Campaign page on icrc.org

Campaign portal: ourworld-yourmove.org

The year 2009 has great significance for the ICRC and the entire Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement: it marks the 150th anniversary of the battle of Solferino and the 60th anniversary of the four Geneva Conventions of 1949. In observance of these anniversaries, the Movement has launched a campaign, Our world. Your move, to remind everyone of his or her individual responsibility to lessen human suffering.

Lebanon is one of the countries being highlighted as part of the campaign. Despite the comparative calm, political tensions continue and many thousands of Palestinians are still living in refugee camps.