The continued heavy bombing in southern Lebanon, Beirut and other areas means that the situation there remains extremely dangerous and difficult for civilians. Large numbers of people are still leaving their homes and heading north or leaving the country altogether, either by sea or by road to neighbouring Syria. The Syrian Arab Red Crescent says that it expects another 15,000 refugees over the next couple of weeks. The Lebanese Red Cross is one of the only organizations that is still able to evacuate the wounded and civilians under fire. Read more about ICRC Bulletin No. 2 - First ICRC aid convoy reaches Tyre
“The widespread lethal impact of the Israeli armed operations on Lebanese civilians and infrastructure has to stop immediately”, said Mr Federico Andreu-Guzman, deputy Secretary-General of the ICJ. The organization is extremely concerned by the apathy of the international community and the inactivity of key governments toward the ongoing Israeli military actions in Lebanon as well as in Gaza, and the widespread killings and suffering of people. The ICJ calls on the UN to take immediate and effective measures to stop the military escalation in which civilians have already paid a huge price. Read more about UN must take immediate action to protect civilians
Warnings by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to civilians that they must evacuate southern Lebanon within 24 hours do not absolve Israel of the duty to avoid attacks likely to cause indiscriminate or disproportionate loss of civilian life. Yesterday, the IDF advised all civilians south of the Litani River in southern Lebanon to evacuate the region within 24 hours for their own safety. Through leaflets dropped by aircraft, radio broadcasts and a recorded message to mobile phones, residents were advised not to travel on motorcycles or in vans or trucks lest they be “suspected of transporting weapons and rockets,” and become “a potential target.” Read more about Israel must allow civilians safe passage
Heavy exchanges of fire continued along the length of the Blue Line in the last 24 hours, with somewhat reduced intensity in the eastern sector. Hezbollah fired rockets from various locations, and the IDF continued the shelling and aerial bombardment of the south. The IDF and Hezbollah are engaged in exchanges on the ground inside Lebanese territory in the area of Marun Al Ras in the central sector, and Marwahin in the western sector. The IDF is present in these two areas since 19 July. There were also intensive cross border exchanges in the area of Alma Ash Shab close to the Mediterranean cost yesterday evening. Read more about Lebanon: Heavy exchanges of fire continued
Unexploded ordnance from recent armed conflict in Lebanon will pose a direct threat to communities and internally displaced persons, hamper humanitarian relief, impede the movement of peacekeeping forces, and hinder the already difficult task of reconstructing houses and essential infrastructure in the area, according to Max Gaylard, Director of the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations. Since 2002, nearly 59,000 landmines and more than 4,600 items of unexploded ordnance have been cleared from southern Lebanon Read more about Unexploded ordnance will hamper humanitarian relief and reconstruction in Lebanon
Regretting that his meetings with leaders in Lebanon and Israel found “serious obstacles” to a comprehensive ceasefire in the violence-racked region, a top United Nations envoy today called on the Security Council to unite in the coming days to dramatically reduce the devastating toll on civilians, and to quickly develop the framework for a political solution. “The Secretary-General and the Secretariat are working on the political, peacekeeping and humanitarian fronts to respond to this deep regional crisis,” said Vijay Nambiar. Read more about UN Middle East envoy calls for united effort to defuse 'deep regional crisis'
One week after the start of the hostilities, the humanitarian situation in Lebanon is worsening with the civilian population particularly affected, notably in southern Lebanon, Beirut and the Beqaa Valley. Over 300 people have reportedly been killed (30% of which are children, according to UNICEF), and over 860 wounded. Current planning figures suggest that there may be 500,000 conflict-affected people (including IDPs and those unable to relocate). Read more about OCHA: Lebanon Response Update (1)
Humanitarian agencies working in Lebanon say their work is being hampered by continued Israeli attacks on aid convoys and access routes. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) yesterday reiterated its 13 July appeal to both parties involved in the conflict in Lebanon to “respect humanitarian volunteers and workers and the Red Cross and Red Crescent symbols”. This call follows an attack on Tuesday by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on a convoy of ambulances and trucks, sent by the United Arab Emirates Red Crescent (UAERC), on the road between Damascus and Beirut. Read more about Aid agencies hampered by Israeli strikes
Relief agencies working in the south of Lebanon say there is a shortage of medical supplies, particularly for infants and children. Hisham Hassan, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) spokesman in Lebanon, told IRIN: “The problem is not whether we are facing a shortage in ambulances or not. It is in getting help through to the victims.” He said that in the southern town of Srifa, where more than 40 civilians had been killed by Israeli bombs, “the Civil Defence cars couldn’t get near the town to rescue any survivors because the Israelis attacked all the town’s entrances and exits throughout the day”. Read more about Humanitarian crisis unfolds in south
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan made a strong call for an immediate cessation of hostilities to preserve lives with a broad, negotiated political solution between Israel and Lebanon in his briefing to the Security Council Thursday, prompting a mixed reaction from members of the Council and regional actors. “We are not going to desert the Lebanese people in their hour of need,” Annan told Council members. “But we have to proceed with caution … most people in the region rightly reject a simple return to the status quo ante, since any truce based on such a limited outcome would not be expected to last,” he added. Read more about UN Secretary-General briefs Security Council to mixed reaction
