Environmental threat persists a year after Israeli strike in Jiyyeh

Crude oil is likely to appear on the shores of Lebanon, according to Hmaidan. He called for the forming of teams to clean oil pools "even by manual means."

"In case someone accidentally steps on or touches oil, the person should clean himself with vegetable oil and not gasoline or kerosene," he added.

Several environmental activists and organizations have launched campaigns to help decrease the impact of the oil spill.

Mohammad al-Sarji, president of the Lebanese Union of Professional Divers, participated in the cleaning of Lebanon's beaches and seabed through Baher Loubnan (Lebanon's Sea) environmental association.

"We cleaned up from Jadra [South of Jiyyeh] to Byblos, whether rocky pebble or sandy beaches," said Sarji.

Polluted sand was collected in containers or bags and left aside. However, nobody collected the containers and bags, he added. "Some oil pebbles melt in the sun's heat ...seeping into the ground."

The polluted sand gathered in bags, plastic containers and piles creates a threat to public health and the marine environment. Some of this oil is exposed and easily accessible by children, while some flowed back into the environment. "I urge the Environment Ministry to collect the [polluted] sand," added Sarji.