Pledge to help Lebanon clear oil spill

United Nations and international maritime agencies promised to give Lebanon immediate technical advice today to help clean up an oil slick, and warned the operation could cost more than €50m.

The oil slick has been described as Lebanon’s worst-ever environmental disaster and experts say it could take up to a year to clean up. The accident occurred during Israel’s month-long bombardment, polluting more than 85 miles of shoreline, including parts of Syria, according to UN estimates.