Aitaroun

ÁInfobox City Lebanon
official_name = Aitaroun (عيترون)
governorate = Nabatieh Governorate
district = Bint Jbeil District
mapx = 33.1156
mapy = 35.4722

Aitaroun (or Aytaroun, Arabic: عيترون) is a Lebanese village located in the caza of Bint-Jbeil at 33.1156° North, 35.4722° East. It is approximately 15km north of the Israeli border and 125km from Beirut.

Population

Aitaroun is considered one of the larger villages in southern Lebanon 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 tobacco, 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.

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. 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, elementary 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.

2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict

At least 20 people from two families, including eight Canadians, were killed when their Aitaroun homes were destroyed in Israeli airstrikes during the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict. 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.cite news|url=http://cbs4boston.com/worldwire/Mideast-MuslimHoliday_a_i_-----/resources_news_html|title=Violence casts shadow on normally festive Muslim holiday in Mideast|date=23 October 2006|publisher=CBS]

References

http://www.ilo.org/public/english/standards/ipec/simpoc/lebanon/ra/tobacco.pdf