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Pattern of displacement mostly in the south

22 July 2006


Of the estimated half a million displaced people in Lebanon, some 70 percent are from southern villages, local officials say. The south of Lebanon is home to Hizbullah militants engaged in firing rockets across Lebanon’s southern border into northern Israel. Tel Aviv started bombing Lebanon on 12 July after Hizbullah militants captured two Israeli soldiers, saying they will only release them in exchange for Israel’s release of Lebanese prisoners. Hizbullah, an Islamic political party, won all 23 parliamentary seats in the south of the country in the 2005 elections. 

ICRC Bulletin No. 2 - First ICRC aid convoy reaches Tyre

22 July 2006


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. 

UN Human Rights Experts: Protect the rights of civilians

21 July 2006


We, express our grave concern that the on-going armed conflict in Lebanon, Israel and Gaza poses serious human rights and humanitarian threats to the civilian population. We call on the parties to the conflict to fully respect the principle of proportionality in the conduct of hostilities and to refrain from indiscriminate attacks on civilians causing loss of life and mass displacement. We urge them to immediately agree on the cessation of hostilities in order to permit unrestricted and secure passage of all humanitarian assistance. 

Letter to Palestinian and Lebanese filmmakers from Israeli filmmakers

22 July 2006


We, the undersigned Israeli filmmakers, greet the Arab filmmakers who have gathered in Paris for the Arab Film Biennial. Through you, we wish to convey a message of camaraderie and solidarity with our Lebanese and Palestinian colleagues who are currently besieged and bombarded by our country’s army. We unequivocally oppose the brutality and cruelty of Israeli policy, which has reached new heights in recent weeks. Nothing justifies the continued occupation, closure, and oppression in Palestine. Nothing justifies the bombing of civilians and the destruction of infrastructures in Lebanon and Gaza. 

Don't leave us alone in Beirut

Hanady Salman Beirut 22 July 2006


“So it’s Saturday. The day we fear. It seems the Israelis will have to postpone some of whatever plans they might have: the evacuations are not done yet.” Continuing her reports from Beirut, Hanady Salman recounts the stories of those taking advantage of a brief lull in Israeli bombing to return to their homes in the heavily hit southern suburb. “Some of my friends who live in the Southern Suburb went there yesterday to check on their houses and bring some of their stuff. They weren’t able to find their homes. Whole neighborhoods are completely destroyed.” 

UN must take immediate action to protect civilians

21 July 2006


“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. 

Israel must allow civilians safe passage

21 July 2006


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.” 

Lebanon: Heavy exchanges of fire continued

21 July 2006


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. 

Unexploded ordnance will hamper humanitarian relief and reconstruction in Lebanon

21 July 2006


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 

UN Middle East envoy calls for united effort to defuse 'deep regional crisis'

21 July 2006


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.