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Lebanon: 500 000 displaced
18/07/2006 22:19 - (SA)
Beirut - The humanitarian situation in Lebanon is "catastrophic" with 500 000 people displaced by the Israeli onslaught, said the Beirut representative of the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef), Roberto Laurenti, on Tuesday.
"The situation is extreme," he said.
"We are also particularly concerned about the situation of the people who are stranded at home, in schools or in hospitals in the south."
This is the part which has born the brunt of the massive offensive launched last Wednesday.
Laurenti expressed concern about dwindling food and medical supplies in Lebanon, which has been nearly cut off from the outside world since Israel imposed a sea-and-air blockade and hit roads leading to the borders last week.
'Humanitarian corridors'
He said Unicef had allocated $7.5m to bring in supplies, but added that it was experiencing huge difficulties in the face of the persistent Israeli bombardment.
"We are trying to organise humanitarian corridors to bring in the food, medical and other supplies which we have already requested to be brought from Amman and Copenhagen, but we are facing enormous problems.
"The road to Damascus is becoming more and more difficult because of the bombardments," he said.
"We are trying to see if we can bring them in from the sea or by some other means."
He said the displaced "mostly sought refuge at the homes of family and friends in safer areas, with about 55 000 who have taken refuge at schools or public gardens".
Stranded in schools
"We are concerned about their conditions, especially because of electricity cuts, lack of water, lack of food and medical supplies and sanitary conditions which could lead to illness," he said.
He said the displaced also included "tens of thousands who fled to Syria and had been stranded in schools there".
Israel launched its massive bombardment last Wednesday after two of its soldiers were captured by Hezbollah militants in a deadly raid.
- AFP
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