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Lebanon

Lebanon: Higher Relief Commission Daily Situation Report No. 16, 09 Aug 2006

Attachments

Lebanon under siege http://www.lebanonundersiege.gov.lb offers up-to-date information on relief efforts and diplomatic initiatives. The site lists locations of shelter and Aid distribution, along with a tally of damage, casualties and official statements. Significantly, the site is available in three languages. This site is the official Lebanese government source of information.
1-Current situation:

The death toll caused by Israel's air strikes on south Beirut suburb and Ghaziyyeh continue in rising. Meanwhile, Heavy bombardments on Beirut Suburb and Intense clashes continued in most of the towns and villages across the border.

  • The death toll from an Israeli air strike on south Beirut suburb Monday rose to at least 56 and 60 people had been injured in the strike that destroyed one residential building and damaged several others in the Shiyyah district. Police sources said the toll, which had earlier been put at 17 dead, could rise further still as rescue workers were continuing to clear rubble from the scene.

  • In yet another gruesome attack on civilians, Israeli air raids killed 14 people and wounded 23 in the southern village of Ghaziyyeh near Sidon. The bomb fell on a funeral procession for 15 people killed by an air raid there the previous day.

  • Six people were killed and more than 15 injured when Israeli air raids struck houses and roads in many villages of south Lebanon and Bekaa valley.

The Cumulative figures of casualties are showing hereinafter.

Estimated No. of Death:
1,020
Estimated No. of Injured people:
3,508

Israel's deadly attack on the Lebanese village of Qana could be part of a "pattern of violation of international Law" committed during almost one month long fighting, United Nations Secretary-General Kofo Annan said, calling for a more comprehensive investigation into the 30 July Bombardments. "I have repeatedly condemned all actions that target civilians and I again call on all parties to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law and, in particular, to take all necessary precautions to spare civilian life and property", Mr. Kofi Annan added.

WHO warns that if fuel is not delivered this week, 60% of all hospitals in Lebanon, in addition to other health facilities will simply cease to function. WHO urges all parties to ensure the safe passage of fuel, as matter of priority.

"Due to the damage to infrastructures in the conflict-affected areas of Lebanon, hospitals and other health centers are relying on fuel to run generators, power is essential to run operating theatres, life-saving equipment including incubators for newborns, refrigeration for vaccines and treatments including insulin, It is also essential for safe water provision and hygiene", the world health organization (WHO) added.

Meanwhile, Lebanese health minister Mohammad khalifa said hospitals would stop functioning in a few days when they run out of fuel.

Two tankers with 87,000tons of fuel oil and diesel are waiting outside Israel's naval blockade, but have refused to bring the supplies in without a written safety guarantee.

As supplies of food and fuel dwindled in south Lebanon, Israel dropped leaflets warning all remaining residents not to drive south of the Litani river- who is 7 Km north of the city- or risk being bombed.

The only way into tyre was to wade across a river outside the city after Israel bombed the makeshift bridge connecting it to the main road north.

Roland Huguenin of the international committee of the Red Cross said that" warning the people to leave does not exonerate the Israeli Army from international law".

Transporting humanitarian aids into many parts of bomb-ravaged Lebanon has become extremely difficult because there were no safe areas left, the UN refugee chief said Tuesday. Antonio Guterres, the United Nations High commissioner for refugee, the established convoy road to Beirut had been bombed, including several bridges." There are no longer any safe areas in the country. You can be bombed anywhere in the country." UNHCR chief said, speaking from London.

A delegation of Italian pacifist organization and NCO,s arrived in Beirut Tuesday for a fact-finding mission before heading back to Italy.

In a press conference, spokesman Farshid Nourai of the Associazione per la pace said:" We were surprised that when we met people they were not asking for our help. They told us:" We don't need your help, we need peace and a cease-fire."

The delegation who traveled around Beirut, meeting with politician and Lebanese civil society members and speaking with the wounded at several hospitals.

"We will go back and explain the real nature of what is happening in Lebanon and inform the people that a human disaster is going on now," Nourai said. "I want to show the Italian people what Israel is doing, what the press is not reporting," said Meri Calvelli, another member of the delegation.

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