A humanitarian fund of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) said on Wednesday that it will offer 200,000 U.S. dollars to help clean up an oil spill off the Lebanese coast, caused by the Israeli bombing of the Jiyeh power station a month ago.

The oil slick, estimated at 10,000-15,000 tons, has polluted 150 km of shoreline, including parts of Syria, after the Israeli air force struck the Jiyeh power plant in southern Beirut on July 16, the OPEC Fund for International Development said in a statement.

The fund will be channeled through the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and will be used to buy essential supplies, the statement said.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric announced on Wednesday that an International Assistance Action Plan has been drawn up to assist the Lebanese government in dealing with the environmental problem.

Experts under the supervision of the Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Center for the Mediterranean Sea drafted the plan, which will be presented at a press conference in the Greek capital of Athens on Thursday, he said.

Last week, Lebanese Environment Minister Yacoub Sarraf said his country will sue Israel for "this incredible crime," but did not explain the details.

Efforts to clean up the spill have previously been delayed by the Israeli naval blockade. Much of the coastline, now fouled by oil, was filled with tourists before the fighting broke out last month.

Source: Xinhua