Lebanon

For much of the last quarter of the 20th century, the Lebanese Republic was involved in a debilitating civil war that drained the country of much-needed resources and destroyed the existing infrastructure. In 1991, the Ta'if Accord paved the way for reconciling divisions between the diverse religious populations and the government, leading to the institution of political and economic reforms. Both Israel and Syria established a military presence in Lebanon to assist in maintaining the tenuous peace. Israel's forces withdrew in 2000; and, bowing to pressure, Syria withdrew its remaining forces in 2004. However, in 2006 renewed hostilities and an Israeli invasion throughout the southern part of the country meant a revival of violence with serious implications for environmental conditions throughout the country.

With a per capita income of $5,100, Lebanon ranks 130th of 232 nations in world income. Roughly one million of the workforce of 2.6 million is non-Lebanese. Poverty is pervasive, and unemployment is high at 18 percent. The entire population of Lebanon has access to safe drinking water, and only 2 percent lack access to improved sanitation. The United Nations Development Programme Human Development Reports rank Lebanon 81st in the world on overall quality-of-life issues.

Bordering on the Mediterranean Sea, Lebanon has a coastline of 140 miles (225 kilometers). The Mediterranean climate produces mild to cool, wet winters and hot, dry summers. Heavy snows are frequent during winter months in the mountains.

Much of Lebanon is composed of a narrow coastal plain, with the Bekaa Valley marking the division between the Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains. Sandstorms are common.

Natural resources include limestone, iron ore, salt, and arable land (16.62 percent). Lebanon has a surplus of water unlike most of her neighbors who suffer from severe shortages of freshwater. This is partially due to the presence of the Nahr el Litani, which is the only major river in the Near East that is contained in a single country.