Aitaroun
Encyclopedia
Aitaroun is a Lebanese
village located in the caza of Bint-Jbeil
at 33.1156° North, 35.4722° East. It is approximately 15 km north of the Israeli border and 125 km from Beirut
.
with a total population estimated at 20,000 (2002). However, the actual number of residents is much lower due to extended political conflict. The non-resident population is divided between emigrants (many in Australia) and internal migrants distributed throughout Lebanon. Approximately 45% of the population is under the age of 30 and the average family size is 6-7 members.
, with some fruit trees, vegetables, and grain crops. During the 22 year Israeli occupation (1978 to 2000), the village received a significant cash flow from enlistment in the South Lebanon Army
and work in Israel
.
and intermediate, encompass 250 students, with a higher percentage of girls especially for the
intermediate level. The total number of students in the private schools amount to 570 distributed among one elementary school and two intermediate schools. The village has one health center operated by the Ministry of Social Affairs. The municipal council in the village was established in 1961 but has since disintegrated. Currently, there is a local community committee that leads the work in the village.
. Continued airstrikes are also thought to have injured a number of Australians remaining in the city despite warnings from Israel to evacuate.
The village lost 41 villagers to the war new figures said. Families laid flowers and read Quranic verses at the graves on October 23, 2006, which marks the Eid ul-Fitr
-holiday.
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
village located in the caza of Bint-Jbeil
Districts of Lebanon
The governorates of Lebanon are divided into 25 districts . The Beirut Governorate is not subdivided. Beirut Governorate*BeirutMount Lebanon Governorate*Baabda...
at 33.1156° North, 35.4722° East. It is approximately 15 km north of the Israeli border and 125 km from Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
.
Population
Aitaroun is considered one of the larger villages in southern LebanonLebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
with a total population estimated at 20,000 (2002). However, the actual number of residents is much lower due to extended political conflict. The non-resident population is divided between emigrants (many in Australia) and internal migrants distributed throughout Lebanon. Approximately 45% of the population is under the age of 30 and the average family size is 6-7 members.
Economy
Most families depend on agriculture as their primary source of income. Around 95% of agricultural cultivation in the village is taken up by tobaccoTobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
, with some fruit trees, vegetables, and grain crops. During the 22 year Israeli occupation (1978 to 2000), the village received a significant cash flow from enlistment in the South Lebanon Army
South Lebanon Army
The South Lebanon Army , also "South Lebanese Army," was a Lebanese militia during the Lebanese Civil War. After 1979, the militia operated in southern Lebanon under the authority of Saad Haddad's Government of Free Lebanon...
and work in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
.
Housing and infrastructure
There are estimated to be 1300 homes in the village, many of which are old and some are still made of mud. An electrical network was established in 1964, however, access to telecommunications is extremely limited. In 2005 a telephone exchange was installed in the village offering connectivity to Lebanon's telephone network. During the occupation, potable water in the village was provided by Israel but that supply was severed with the withdrawal in 2000. As of 2002, an alternate source has not yet been established. The main water source is collection of rain water.Government and social services
There are five schools operating in Aitaroun: two public and three private. Public schools, elementaryand intermediate, encompass 250 students, with a higher percentage of girls especially for the
intermediate level. The total number of students in the private schools amount to 570 distributed among one elementary school and two intermediate schools. The village has one health center operated by the Ministry of Social Affairs. The municipal council in the village was established in 1961 but has since disintegrated. Currently, there is a local community committee that leads the work in the village.
2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict
At least 20 people from two families, including eight Canadians (Akhrass family), were killed when their Aitaroun homes were destroyed in Israeli airstrikes during the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict
The 2006 Lebanon War, also called the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah War and known in Lebanon as the July War #Other uses|Tammūz]]) and in Israel as the Second Lebanon War , was a 34-day military conflict in Lebanon, northern Israel and the Israeli-occupied territories. The principal parties were Hezbollah...
. Continued airstrikes are also thought to have injured a number of Australians remaining in the city despite warnings from Israel to evacuate.
The village lost 41 villagers to the war new figures said. Families laid flowers and read Quranic verses at the graves on October 23, 2006, which marks the Eid ul-Fitr
Eid ul-Fitr
Eid ul-Fitr, Eid al-Fitr, Id-ul-Fitr, or Id al-Fitr , often abbreviated to Eid, is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting . Eid is an Arabic word meaning "festivity," while Fiṭr means "breaking the fast"...
-holiday.
External links
- http://www.ilo.org/public/english/standards/ipec/simpoc/lebanon/ra/tobacco.pdf