The Lebanese government and United Nations forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) are attempting to restore medical, educational and other public services in the war-ravaged southern regions of the country.

SYNOPSIS: In southern Lebanon, there has been prolonged fighting. Last month, Israeli troops struck across the border again against Palestinian guerrilla bases, and UN troops have been trying to keep rightist Christian Militia troops under control.

The UNIFIL forces have a five-month extension of their mandate in Lebanon, and while they remain, the Lebanese government wants to take back the administrative control of the areas secured by UNIFIL. Defence Minister Victor Khoury and UNIFIL commander, General Alexander Erskine, have agreed on a three-month timetable to restore government authority to the area.

The Cabinet has given the Governor of South Lebanon, Halim Fayad, extraordinary powers to deal with the many problems that will face him, and an initial budget of half a million Lebanese pounds (41,000 U.S. dollars), which will be renewed automatically once spent.

Health services in southern Lebanon have been severely disrupted by the fighting and political tension. Water supplies have been allowed to run down. And reports claim the region's electricity network is failing. Education for many local children and teenagers has been irregular, and police services are poor.