Lebanon

What we do / Crisis Prevention and Recovery / Humanitarian efforts and updates on the situation in Lebanon

• 31 August - Press Release
Beirut, 31 August 2006 - In the context of cooperation with the Lebanese government and towards an early recovery and a complete implementation of the reconstruction plan, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is offering grants to the municipalities of Beirut Southern Suburb, with an overall amount of $200,000 (Two hundred thousands US dollars), distributed to the following municipalities: Al Ghobeiri – Al Shayah – Burj Al Barajna – and Haret Hreik, aiming at cleaning the rubbles out of the internal roads complementary with the rubble cleaning the Ministry of Public Works is conducting.

• 29 August - Restoring the livelihoods of fishermen
Beirut, 29 August 2006 - The fishermen in Lebanon are among the many groups affected by the Israeli attack. Not only do they face a naval blockade imposed by Israel 49 days ago, but they are still suffering the consequences of the pollution caused by an oil spill that spread over 120 Km of the Lebanese coastline.

Since the attack on Lebanon began, 3,500 fishermen have lost their only source of income. Early interference is vital for reconstruction and for supporting the Fishermen Associations in Lebanon so they can get restore their livelihoods.

UNDP has signed an agreement with the Lebanese government for reconstruction projects including granting monetary donations to the Fishermen Associations in Lebanon. The projects are to support theses associations and strengthen their capabilities. An amount of 90.000 USD was allocated for repairing damaged boats, providing nets and engines and rebuilding the fish market in Ouzaai.

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• 29 August - Situation and Early Recovery Update
Situation Overview: The Government of Lebanon (GoL) Higher Relief Council (HRC) reports the casualty figures at 1,187 killed and 4,061 injured. Most of the recent casualties have been caused by UXOs.

As of 28 August, 359 individual cluster bomb strike locations have been confirmed and recorded. Given that areas of lower priority and a number of villages with IDF presence nearby have yet to be visited, it is estimated the total number of strikes could be in excess of 400.

Un-exploded bombs (UXB) dropped by aircraft and ranging from 500lb to 2000lb, continue to be located. Many large, aircraft bombs lie un-exploded in people’s houses and gardens. The National Demining Office reports that the Lebanese

Early Recovery : UNDP has signed contracts with local authorities in southern Lebanon 100 villages to begin recovery work. Thirty-one villages have already begun removing rubble from the streets, filling potholes, and making other repairs to improve access in and around villages. In addition to the villages in the south, Baalbeck in the Beqaa’ Valley has contracted with UNDP to undertake similar early
recovery clean-up activities.

Aid convoys and shipments

Truck Convoys
Movement	#	Comments/cargo
Beirut-South Beirut	1	(WFP )Wheat flour
Beirut-Jezzine	9	(WFP) Wheat flour, canned meat/vegetables
Sea Movement
Movement	Vessel	Comments/Cargo
Larnaca -Beirut	Victoria M	Passengers (members of the humanitarian community)
To Beirut	Gaz Pacific	Government of Lebanon chartered vessel carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

The WFP-chartered vessels Anamcara and Majestic, sailed from Beirut port today after offloading relief supplies.

Click here to view full OCHA update.

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• 25 August - Quick Delivery - High Impact Projects in Lebanon
Beirut, August 25, 2006 - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) signed an agreement with the Prime Minister’s Office and has proposed projects for early recovery in Lebanon. With the Prime Minster’s consent the first phase of a grants project for damaged municipalities is being implemented prior to the Stockholm conference for early recovery in Lebanon.

The grants project aims at supporting municipal capacity so they can effectively assist the return of internally displaced people to their homes or shelters. It also includes some primary reconstruction projects, such as repairing roads, schools and clinics, removing rubble, restoring electricity and water services and providing shelter for those who lost their houses.

With a UNDP primary allocated budget of $800,000, this phase covers 98 municipalities mostly located in South Lebanon and the Baalbeck municipality. It is expected that donors will provide further resources to continue the project’s financing and cover all the damaged municipalities in the Bekaa region and North Lebanon and all other areas in the second phase.

Depending on the extent of damages, local needs and the available resources and initiatives in each area, the project determined grants between $2,000 and $25,000. So far, 98 agreements have been signed with municipalities of the following administrative unit or Kadaa: Nabatiyyeh, Marjeyoun, Bint Jbeil, Tyre, and Baalbeck.

Further agreements will be signed with other municipalities particularly of the Bekaa region and north Lebanon once additional resources are provided. The municipalities will assess damages and define requirements and priorities in order to implement the project.

Municipalities that have received grants at this phase are:

Grant amount (US$)	Municipality
$25,000	Bint Jbeil, Al Khiyam, Aytaroun, Aita Al Shaab, Nabatiyeh, Tyre and Baalbeck.
$15,000	Aynata, Maroun Al Ras, Al Ghandouriyeh, Meis Al Jabal, Yater and Blida.
$12,000	Kounin.
$10,000	Srifa, Al Tibeh, Baraachit, Froun, Zibkeen, and Siddikeen.
$7,000	Beit Yahoun, Al Abbasiyeh, Ain Baal, Yohmor, Maaroub, Al Adayseh, Markaba, Talousa, Kabrikha, Al Kleileh, Shamaa and Al Bayada, Qana, Al Tiri, Jibcheet, Beit Lif and Al Jumeijmeh.
$5,000	Barish, Kfarseer, Zawtar Al Gharbiyeh, Majdel Silm, Deir Siryan, Houla, Roubb Talateen, Majdel Zoun, Teir Harfa, Kafra, Deir Kanoun Al Nahr, Al Mansouri, Rashayya Al Foukhar, Harouf, Harees, Kfartibneet, Bani Hayyan, Tibneen, Ansar, Al Naqoura, Al Ghaziyeh, Mayfadoun, Shaqra, Aitit, Shihin, Hanin, Aadshit, Al Soltaniyeh, Blat, Hanaweih, Jibal Al Botm, Ramieh, Al Halousiyeh, Kafar Shouba, Jbaa and Ain Bouswar, Deir Kanoun Ras Al Ein, Al Bazouriyeh, Bourj Al Shamali, Deir Al Zihrani, Arnoun, Al Jibbin and Marjeyoun.
$3,000	Al Doueir, Shoukin, Deir Mimas, Kaakaiet al Jisr, Nabatiyeh Al Fawka, Al Noumeiriyeh, Haboush, Al Kfour, Zifta, Batouleih, Ain Ebel, Safad Al Bateekh, Bourj Rahal, Rmeish, Aadshit al Qaseer, Dirdghayah and Silaa.
$2,000	Almari, Al Souwwaneh and Kfar kila.

• 16 August - Media Update : Humanitarian situation and response of UN Agencies
Casualties: Following the recovery of more bodies from the rubble of destroyed homes and buildings, especially in South Lebanon, the Lebanese Higher Relief Committee (HRC) has increased the civilian death toll in the conflict to 1,152 people while nearly and 3,700 others have been injured. An estimated 15,000 homes have been destroyed.

Displaced Movement: The number of displaced persons currently stands at 702,413, following the return of an estimated 200,000 people to their original homes. Most of the internally-displaced persons (IDPs) are still located in South Beirut, Mount Lebanon, Chouf, and Aaley, and others are located in and around Bekaa and northern Lebanon.

Precise figures of the returnees from Syria during the last two days are not available, but UNHCR has made preparations to assist up to 50,000 returnees from Syria. A UNHCR team operating south of Beirut found village schools that had sheltered thousands of displaced were almost empty. In Aitat village, those in the school had fallen from 464 to two families. In Ain Unub, only four families were left from the 350 people before the ceasefire, which took effect Monday morning.

UN Agencies on assessment mission Beirut southern suburbs: The World Food Programme (WFP) and other UN agencies carried out a short mission to southern suburbs of Beirut. The team observed extensive destruction in the areas visited. Municipal officials said many of the displaced people during the conflict have not returned yet, at least not in big numbers. They remain in other areas of the city and in locations further north, staying with families and friends. The extent of damaged housing is still being assessed. (2,500 housing units have reportedly been destroyed in Haret Hreik part of the Southern suburb and another 5,000 damaged). There are no major collective centres for the displaced in Haret Hreik.

In Haret Hreik non-governmental initiatives (associations, citizens, etc.) in addition to the municipality are conducting necessary repairs to damaged infrastructure. The area, which was the hardest hit in the southern suburbs, suffers a shortage in drinking water. Other immediate needs included food, medicines and some other basic everyday life needs.

Road convoys: WFP, which manages the logistics for the humanitarian community, organized a convoy to Tyre today including five trucks from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) carrying tents and various relief items, and four trucks for the French NGO Premiere Urgence carrying food and other relief items.

The other convoy had three trucks belonging to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) is on its way to the Wavel Camp in Baalbek carrying food for about 5,000 residents in the camp.

Sea: In aid relief movements via sea today, the WFP-contracted Turkish vessel (Kazim Genc), which arrived a few days ago, is still off-loading relief supplies.

The Roll on, Roll off (RoRo) vessel, Anamcara, has finished reloading and left at 6 am today heading to Tyre and then back to Cyprus. The ship is carrying food, medical supplies, drinking water and fuel. The supplies are loaded on 12 trucks for WFP, five for the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and two fuel-carrying trucks for WFP and the World Health Organizaton (WHO). Part of the fuel is for hospital running out of fuel as well fuel to support some basic humanitarian needs such as the aid convoys. Food supplies include wheat flour, vegetable oil, and canned meat. Some of WFP supplies will move from Tyre to Tibnin and Jwaya.

A French ship carrying large amount of UNHCR relief supplies is expected to dock in Beirut this afternoon.

Air: A UNHCR-chartered C-130 plane from Amman landed today in Beirut Airport with tents, mattresses and other relief supplies; another plane is arriving at 3:30 p.m.

Flash Appeal: To date, just over $81 million has been committed to the $165 million Flash Appeal for Lebanon. Not all of this money has been paid in yet.

For more information, please contact:

Khaled Mansour, Chief UN Spokesman, Lebanon, Tel: 961-3 087651

Daljeet S. Bagga, Public Information Officer, OCHA, Beirut Tel 1 917 443-0873

Pascale el-Kassis, National Information Officer, UNIC Beirut Tel 03 295 255

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• 14 August - OCHA Factsheet
Humanitarian Priorities:
- The United Nations priority concern remains the need for an immediate cessation of hostilities and regular and secure access for humanitarian workers and supplies to those affected by the conflict.
- According to the Lebanese Higher Relief Council (HRC), 987 Lebanese have been killed and 3,408 wounded in the conflict to date.
- The Government of Israel reports that 39 Israeli civilians have been killed.
- Approximately 915,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon: 700,000 of them within Lebanon. The rest have sought shelter in Syria and other countries.

Access:
- Due to yesterday's bombing of the provisional bridge across the Litani River, Tyre is effectively cut off from northern Lebanon. UNIFIL is looking into repairing the bridge and seeking concurrence from the IDF.
- Access from Beirut to northern Lebanon has also been severely constrained by the destruction of the Aarida-Beirut coastal highway; alternative routes do not support heavy trucks.
- An eleven-truck convoy arrived from Syria today carrying humanitarian supplies from the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
- No convoys were dispatched to southern Lebanon today.
- An OCHA environmental assessment mission to assess the oil spill, which has now spread to the coast of Syria, has also been postponed.

Operational Activities/Concerns
- The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that if fuel is not delivered this week, 60 per cent of all hospitals in Lebanon, as well as other health facilities, will cease to function.
- The two commercial tankers carrying 87,000 metric tonnes of fuel continue to wait outside of Lebanese waters. The United Nations is looking into alternate means of off-loading the fuel they are carrying.
- Food distributions are underway in Beirut: WFP has distributed more than 300 MT of food to nearly 91,000 people in Lebanon and Syria since 23 July;
- The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has distributed hygiene and kitchen kits, as well as other non-food items to 45 IDP centres in Jbeil and Kisirwan, which serve more than 20,000 IDPs.
- The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has dispatched hygiene kits to the Lebanese Red Cross (LRC) in Zahle, which will benefit approximately 7,000 IDPs.

Lebanon Flash Appeal : To date, just over $52 million has been committed to the $154 million Flash Appeal for Lebanon, or 34 per cent of requirements; an additional $24.5 million in pledges have also been recorded.

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• 11 August - Media Update

Political/UN Human Rights Council:
- The SG is working intensely with the SC members and key leaders both in NY and in capitals to push for a resolution. He calls again for the fighting to stop to save civilians from the nightmare they have endured for the past four weeks. The SG believes that it ought to be possible for the Security Council to adopt a resolution by the end of the week.
- The Secretary-General Thursday 10 Aug spoke by phone with US Secretary of State Condoleeezza Rice, Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora and Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. The Secretary-General's last conversation with US President George W. Bush was a few days ago.
- The UN Human Rights Council will hold a special session on the situation in Lebanon in Geneva today. The President of the Human Rights Council, having consulted with interested parties, had decided to convene the special session in order to respond to the request of the Ambassador of Tunisia, on behalf of the Group of Arab States and the Organization of the Islamic Conference, supported in total by 16 Member States.
- The request for the special session was supported by the following Member States: Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, China, Cuba, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Morocco, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia.

Humanitarian situation and response of UN Agencies
- Casualties and Displacement: According to the Lebanese Higher Relief Committee (HRC), 1,032 people have been killed and 3,580 injured. The number of displaced currently stands at 915,000 (45 percent are children). Most internally displaced persons (IDPs) are located in South Beirut, Mount Lebanon, Chouf, and Aaley, and others are located in and around Bekaa and northern Lebanon.
- Background on movement of civilians and foreigners in the South: The French vessel "Sirocco" is scheduled to arrive and depart today. The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is planning to use the vessel to facilitate the evacuation of up to 18 third country nationals from the villages of Rmeich and Ramiah.
- UNICEF Executive Director, in a statement today, said that humanitarian access is urgently needed to reach families and children who are affected by the crisis. Thousands of children have been killed and injured in the conflict. Countless others are living in extremely precarious conditions which are worsening daily, with limited access to clean water, food, medicine and hygiene supplies. With fuel supplies dwindling, hospital operations are threatened along with other vital services.

Convoys:
- Beirut to Nabatiyeh: 8 trucks - 1 UNFPA with essential humanitarian supplies and 7 WFP with food.
- Beirut to Sidon: 10 trucks for UNRWA with essential supplies (mattresses, pillows, jerry cans, kitchen sets and general hygiene materials) to the Palestinian refugee camps near Sidon.
- Beirut to Baalbek: (spent the night in Zahle): 11 trucks for WFP with food and one truck for UNFPA with essential humanitarian supplies.
- A road assessment mission was sent from Beirut to Nabatiyeh and Baalbeck .

Tyre increasingly isolated: According to Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the UN Area Coordinator in Tyre has reported that the town is very quiet with very few people on the streets. Small numbers of civilians outside the town are moving form one village to the next. The main hospital (173 beds) is receiving the vast majority of trauma cases with some 15 cases per day. The current international humanitarian presence is very limited. A large number of international journalists are stranded in Tyre because they cannot leave.

Background information
Lebanon Flash Appeal: So far, the UN agencies which appealed for US$ 155 million for their three-month activities in Lebanon, received $76.7 million in commitments.
Current Mine/UXO (unexploded ordnance) threat in Lebanon: there is an increasing threat of UXO (unexploded ordnance) and Cluster Bomb in South Lebanon. Also there is a threat of unexploded bombs in the rest of the country to the resident population, returning internally displaced persons, and humanitarian workers . Little direct action may be taken prior to a sustained cease-fire/cessation of hostilities

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Most internally displaced persons (IDPs) are located in South Beirut, Mount Lebanon, Chouf, and Aaley, and others are located in and around Bekaa and northern Lebanon. Although some IDPs remain in the coastal cities of Tyre and Sidon in southern Lebanon, few people remain in southern Lebanese villages, and many who initially moved to southern cities have now fled further north.

HRC reports that an estimated 565,000 displaced persons are staying with relatives and friends, and nearly 131,000 are located in 761 schools and public institutions throughout the country. An estimated 220,000 have fled to neighboring countries, including 150,000 to Syria.

No precise figures are available concerning the current movement of people from the south, though it is believed that displacement has dramatically decreased from the areas south of the Litani due to the fact that the south has largely emptied out of residents (except for Tyre, Rmesih and Naqoura, where most of the remaining people in the South can be found - The estimates put the numberof people who remain in the south at more than 100,000 people).

There are 100,000 displaced who have come to Beirut alone. Getting relief to those in more isolated areas is even more difficult because of the damage to roads and prevailing insecurity.

UNRWA, the UN agency which assists Palestinian refugees, is accommodating displaced Lebanese families in two schools in Beirut area. It plans to undertake a general distribution for 30,000 Palestine refugee families and 25,000 displaced persons within Lebanon.

AID Convoys : Today's movements: Only one convoy has moved south of Beirut heading to the Sidon area. No concurrence on security was received from the Israeli Defense Force on a proposed convoys to Nabatiyeh.

A planned assessment team reconnaissance to Tyre was postponed. The normal supply convoy from Aarida/Tripoli is coming in.

Fuel situation: Fuel situation is worsening but attempts by the government and the UN to bring shipments into the energey-starved country continue.

The UN is working to facilitate the passage of existing shipments (including the two fuel oil and diesel ships berthed in Cyprus. Both are paid for and arranged by the Lebanese Government). The UN is also hoping to help provide some urgently needed fuel to meet some of the needs of essential services such as hospitals and bakeries through the government of Lebanon.

Aid distribution: The World Food Program (WFP) distributed 384 tons of food delivered to displaced people in Beirut through local NGOs. The regular food distributions is continuing in Beirut and surrounding area.

The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) distributed water kits, essential drugs and other hygiene products to communities in Beirut, Aley, Chouf, Mount Lebanon, North Lebanon, and Bekaa.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) existing stocks of emergency aid inside Lebanon have been largely exhausted. The Agency is assessing the needs of hundreds of thousands of displaced inside Lebanon but need to be able to get supplies from outside faster in order to meet those needs.

Health issues: UNICEF has identified 154 schools in Beirut for upgrading of public health facilities including improved sanitation systems, upgrading of water quality, shower installation etc. The upgrades will benefit nearly 37,000 Internally displaced persons (IDPs) sheltering in these schools.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health, supported by UNICEF and the World Health Organization and a variety of NGO partners, are aiming to ensure that children living in schools and other public places are protected against illnesses like measles, polio and other diseases. An immunization drive moved ahead today in schools and parks hosting the internally displaced persons around Beirut involving more than 150 teams and benefiting nearly 65,000 children. This campaign will be expanded in the coming weeks.

Lebanon Flash Appeal: To date, just over $52 million has been committed to the $154 million Appeal by UN organization for humanitarian assistance to Lebanon (the shortfall is 66 percent).

United Nations Environment Programme: First steps towards action on the ground were initiated yesterday with the arrival in Syria of two UN experts to evaluate the consequences of the oil spill that has already polluted over 140 kms of the Lebanese coastline and has spread north into Syrian waters. At this stage the information however remains sketchy and no clean-up action has been possible. [UNEP Press Release is available]. As to reports on the relationship between the spill and cancer it is "highly premature to jump to such conclusions, we need to give time to the experts to take samples and analyze them." The UN has not made any determination or issued any reports in this regard yet.

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• 8 August - OCHA Factsheet
Humanitarian Priorities:
- The United Nations priority concern remains the need for an immediate cessation of hostilities and regular and secure access for humanitarian workers and supplies to those affected by the conflict.
- According to the Lebanese Higher Relief Council (HRC), 987 Lebanese have been killed and 3,408 wounded in the conflict to date.
- The Government of Israel reports that 39 Israeli civilians have been killed.
- Approximately 915,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon: 700,000 of them within Lebanon. The rest have sought shelter in Syria and other countries.

Access:
- Due to yesterday's bombing of the provisional bridge across the Litani River, Tyre is effectively cut off from northern Lebanon. UNIFIL is looking into repairing the bridge and seeking concurrence from the IDF.
- Access from Beirut to northern Lebanon has also been severely constrained by the destruction of the Aarida-Beirut coastal highway; alternative routes do not support heavy trucks.
- An eleven-truck convoy arrived from Syria today carrying humanitarian supplies from the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
- No convoys were dispatched to southern Lebanon today.
- An OCHA environmental assessment mission to assess the oil spill, which has now spread to the coast of Syria, has also been postponed.

Operational Activities/Concerns:
- The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that if fuel is not delivered this week, 60 per cent of all hospitals in Lebanon, as well as other health facilities, will cease to function.
- The two commercial tankers carrying 87,000 metric tonnes of fuel continue to wait outside of Lebanese waters. The United Nations is looking into alternate means of off-loading the fuel they are carrying.
- Food distributions are underway in Beirut: WFP has distributed more than 300 MT of food to nearly 91,000 people in Lebanon and Syria since 23 July;
- The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has distributed hygiene and kitchen kits, as well as other non-food items to 45 IDP centres in Jbeil and Kisirwan, which serve more than 20,000 IDPs.
- The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has dispatched hygiene kits to the Lebanese Red Cross (LRC) in Zahle, which will benefit approximately 7,000 IDPs.

Lebanon Flash Appeal: To date, just over $52 million has been committed to the $154 million Flash Appeal for Lebanon, or 34 per cent of requirements; an additional $24.5 million in pledges have also been recorded.

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• 8 August - Media Update from the UN Chief Spokesman in Lebanon
Humanitarian situation and response of UN Agencies : The World Health Organization has urged all parties to secure safe passage of fuel supplies for health facilities. WHO has warned 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 a matter of priority. WHO has received reports that fuel supplies are running dangerously low. One hospital in Marjayoun, for example, reports that it will run out of fuel by tomorrow (09 August).

Lebanon has 12,000 hospital beds. A reasonable estimate is that, in order to function, each hospital bed needs 80 litres of fuel per week for electric power.

Casualties and Displacement: According to the Higher Relief Committee of the Government of Lebanon, 958 people have been killed and 3,369 injured. The number of displaced currently stands at 915,000. Of those, 700,000 were displaced within Lebanon.

UNRWA, the UN agency which assists Palestinian refugees, is keeping track of the internally displaced people (IDPs) seeking refuge in UNRWA-run schools in Lebanon. Estimates are that 4,000 IDPs have sought shelter at these schools, whereby one-third are Palestinians and the rest are Lebanese.

Convoys and access to Tyre:
- Tyre is now effectively cut off, since the Israeli bombing of a provisional bridge across the Litani river yesterday. UNIFIL is looking into repairing the bridge, but first seeking assurances from the Israeli Defense Forces that it would not be destroyed again.
- The UN is looking into alternative routes for providing aid to Lebanon by sea, especially with the bad condition of the road transport network due to Israeli raids. One major route would be by sea directly to Beirut, Sidon and Tyre.
- No convoys to south today. Twelve trucks are heading to Zahle in east Lebanon but no convoys to the south.
- One convoy of 11 trucks from Syria has been sent with various humanitarian supplies from WFP and UNHCR
- Food distributions underway in Beirut.

Fuel: Fuel shipments are ready to be sent to Lebanon as soon as the security situation allows. Fuel tanks are also ready to be sent from Beirut to other areas in Lebanon in convoys, provided security is ensured.

Aid distribution: UNDP distributed diapers, cerelac, hygiene kits and kitchen kits to 45 centers in Jbiel and Kisirwan in Mount Lebanon serving over 20,000 of internally displaced persons. By this distribution UNDP has completed its non-food items (NFI) assistance to IDP centers.

UNFPA has dispatched hygiene kits to the Lebanese Red Cross (LRC) in Zahleh, Bekaa, on Sunday. Kits were distributed to 1,140 families, benefiting around 7,000 people. The LRC in Zahleh will distribute the kits to Internally Displaced Persons centers based in the different towns and villages of the Bekaa area.

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• 7 August - Press Statement of UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon David Shearer
The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Lebanon, David Shearer, today called on the Israeli Defence Forces to end its attacks on civilian infrastructure and to cease all actions hindering the supply of humanitarian relief supplies to the hundreds of thousands of displaced people across the country.

Bombardments by the IDF have seriously curtailed vital supply routes between the north and south of Lebanon. The destruction of four bridges on the road from the Syrian border at Arida to Beirut has forced the UN World Food Programme, which is responsible for transporting all UN relief supplies into and within Lebanon, to cancel convoys and subsequntly take lengthy detours, tripling the travel time between the Syrian border and Beirut.

On Sunday, two missile attacks very close to a UN convoy near the southern Lebanese city of Tyre killed at least two Lebanese people.

“Attacks close to our convoys, such as yesterday’s, could very well prevent us from continuing our humanitarian relief efforts, as many truck drivers are no longer willing to risk their lives,� Shearer said. Four drivers did not turn up to work today. “The targeting of civilians and essential social infrastructure is a violation of international law,� Shearer said.

Shearer also said that the destruction of civilian infrastructure, including bridges, roads, fuel depots, power stations and hospitals, had pushed Lebanon to the brink of a humanitarian disaster and was threatening to paralyse relief efforts.

“We deplore the continuation of Israeli bombardment of civilian infrastructure in Lebanon and call on all parties in this conflict to adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law with regard to civilians.�

“We also condemn the continuing rocket attacks by Hizbollah against civilian targets in Israel,� Shearer said.

The dwindling supply of fuel could cut off power supplies within a few days, effectively preventing hospitals from functioning and closing water pumping stations. “If that happens, we will be facing a major humanitarian crisis,� Shearer said.

Since the Lebanon conflict erupted on 12 July, 958 Lebanese people, most of them civilians, have been killed, and about 3,370 injured. The number of displaced currently stands at more than 915,000 - about one quarter of the entire Lebanese population. In Israel, 95 people have been killed, 38 if them civilians, as a result of the conflict and rocket attacks from Lebanon by Hizbollah.

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• 7 August - Press Release from the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNFIL)
Exchanges of fire continued in the past 24 hours, with a high intensity and throughout the UNIFIL area of operations. Hezbollah fired rockets in large numbers from various locations. The IDF continued shelling and aerial bombardment across the south.

The IDF has maintained their presence and continued to operate on Lebanese territory in different areas. There are no reports of significant changes since yesterday in the areas where they are operating. There are reports this morning of intensive ground exchanges in many areas: Bayyadah and Mansuri along the coast, Bint Jubayl and Yarun in the central sector, Mays al Jabal, Markaba, Addaisseh, Kafr Kila, Hula, and Tayyabah in the central east sector. The IDF reinforced their presence in the areas of Marun Al Ras and Addaisseh, and returned to the general area of Sarda.

Intensive air strikes were reported this morning in the area of the watercourse of the Litani River, northwest of Blat, in the eastern sector, and in the area between Bayyadah and Tyre along the Mediterranean coast. Israeli gunboat also shelled the coastal areas north of Naqoura. It was also reported that the Lebanese Army checkpoint at Mansuri was hit by Israeli artillery fire yesterday, killing one soldier and injuring two.

Israeli air strikes of this morning destroyed a provisional bridge over the Litani river on the coastal road north of Tyre (the original bridge was destroyed by Israeli air strikes in the beginning of hostilities), thereby effectively cutting off road communication from Tyre to Saida and Beirut. In coordination with the Lebanese authorities, UNIFIL is trying to ensure with the IDF the reopening of the road by putting up another provisional bridge in that area, especially for humanitarian purposes.

There were two incidents of firing close to a UNIFIL position by Hezbollah in the area of Hula. In another incident yesterday, two missiles from an unknown source impacted in the vicinity of a UNIFIL logistic convoy in El Addaisseh. This morning, Hezbollah fired rockets from the vicinity of the UN position in Tibnin, and the IAF carried out air strikes on the areas from which the fire originated. There were no injuries or damage to UNIFIL property. UNIFIL strongly protested all these incidents to the Lebanese and Israeli authorities respectively.

All UNIFIL positions remain permanently occupied and maintained by the troops. Fourteen UN positions, including the UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura, are currently located in the areas where the IDF operates inside Lebanese territory, and where intensive shelling and ground exchanges are taking place. UNIFIL dispatched one logistic convoy yesterday, and additional re-supply convoys are planned for today.

UNIFIL assisted the rotation of troops of the Lebanese Joint Security Forces in Marjayoun, and escorted its convoy from Marjayoun to Tibnin and back.

The UNIFIL search team rescued one civilian from a collapsed building in Naqoura yesterday. He received initial treatment at the UNIFIL hospital, and was evacuated to the hospital in Tyre. The UNIFIL search and rescue team recovered the remains of three people in the building, and handed them over to the next of kin.

UNIFIL provided water to the village of Ibil as Saqi, and medical assistance to the internally displaced people in the village. It also transported one generator from Khiyam to Ibil as Saqi to restore water pumping. A UNIFIL team escorted and assisted municipality workers to repair and restore the power supply to Marjayoun. A humanitarian convoy to distribute food provided by the French government and the Maronite Bishop of Tyre to the villages of the western sector is planned for today.

The IDF handed over to UNIFIL two Lebanese civilians and one Sudanese national bearing a Lebanese working permit at the Ras Naqoura crossing yesterday. This move was coordinated with the Lebanese authorities. UNIFIL handed the over to the Lebanese authorities.

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• 30 July - The Secretary-General: Statement to the Security Council
New York, 30 July 2006

Thank you, Mr. President.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen:

We meet at a moment of extreme gravity first and foremost for the people of the Middle East, but also for the authority of this Organization, especially this Council.

As you know, during the night the Israeli airforce bombed the village of Qana, in southern Lebanon. This village is no longer in UNIFIL's area of operations. Therefore we had no UN personnel nearby at the time of the attack though Chinese engineers and two medical teams have now managed to reach the area. They are helping to clear the rubble and giving treatment to survivors.

I am therefore relying on the Lebanese authorities for my information.

Preliminary reports say that at least 54 people have been killed, among them at least 37 children.

Excellencies, we must condemn this action in the strongest possible terms, and I appeal to you to do likewise. I am deeply dismayed that my earlier calls for immediate cessation of hostilities were not heeded, with the result that innocent life continues to be taken and innocent civilians continue to suffer. I repeat that call once again from this Council chamber, and I appeal to the Council to do likewise. And I send my deepest condolences to the families of all the victims of violence in Lebanon, in Israel, and in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Gaza.

Excellencies, this tragedy has, rightly, provoked moral outrage throughout the world.

Regrettably, some Lebanese people have turned their anger against this Organization. Earlier today a large number of protesters broke into our headquarters in Beirut and briefly set fire to it. I am glad to say the fire was quickly put out. As of now, three staff members have been reported injured and I am glad to say, none critically.

The demonstrators have now left the building after intervention by the Lebanese armed forces. I am deeply grateful to the government of Lebanon for this prompt action, and also to the Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, Mr. Nabih Berri, and other Lebanese leaders, whose statesmanlike appeals for calm were decisive. The UN House is the hub of our humanitarian activities in Lebanon. These will continue throughout the country.

But naturally we fear similar reactions elsewhere in the region or in the wider Islamic world. I appeal to the authorities and people in all countries to respect and ensure the safety of UN personnel. I appeal to everyone to understand that we are doing our best to help through diplomacy, through humanitarian action and by the efforts of UNIFIL, which as you know itself suffered tragic losses only a few days ago.

My dear friends,

The tragic events in Qana remind us that, ten years ago over 100 people who had taken refuge in this same village suffered a similar fate. We must deliver the region from this seemingly endless cycle of violence.

In the last 18 days, several hundred Lebanese citizens have been killed. The vast majority of them civilians, and at least a third of them children. During the same period, hundreds of thousands of Lebanese have had to flee their homes, many of them under heavy shelling.

Meanwhile over 50 Israelis have died, including 19 civilians, and the population of northern Israel has been subjected to intense and continuous rocket fire, and thousands are now in shelters.

It is important to stress that both sides in this conflict bear a heavy responsibility, and there is strong prima facie evidence that both have committed grave breaches of international humanitarian law.

The present fighting began on 12 July with an unprovoked Hezbollah attack on Israel and the kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers. Since then, Hezbollah has continued firing rockets indiscriminately into northern Israel, from positions apparently located in the midst of the civilian population.

No one disputes Israel's right to defend itself. But by its manner of doing so it has caused, and is causing, death and suffering on a wholly unacceptable scale.

As you know, I have repeatedly condemned all actions that target civilians, and the High Commissioner for Human Rights has reminded all parties that they may he held accountable for any breaches of international humanitarian law.

But, my friends, the most urgent need is to bring the fighting to a halt without further delay. For that, this Council has a solemn responsibility.

Action is needed now, before many more children, women and men become casualties of a conflict over which they have no control.

Therefore, I reiterate my call for an immediate cessation of hostilities, to allow desperately needed humanitarian relief to reach the victims.

While that is happening, we can work together on the political framework needed for a lasting ceasefire and a sustainable solution: the strengthening of Lebanon's government, the disarming of all militias, and the implementation of all Security Council resolutions, including 1559 and 1680. I will work with you in the development and deployment of a stabilisation force to support the Government of Lebanon in its decision and responsibility to extend its authority throughout the country.

I know there are differences among the Council's members about the precise sequence of actions needed. I beg you to set those differences aside, and come together on the most urgent point: the immediate cessation of hostilities.

I should also share with the council that this morning in my conversation with the Prime Minister Siniora of Lebanon, he told me his government has taken a decision that they will no longer engage in further diplomatic discussions, and efforts to find a solution, without a ceasefire. And I asked him if the government as a whole took that decision and he reaffirmed that is the decision of his government.

The other information that I would like to share with you, is that UNIFIL did receive a request from the Israeli defence forces that the population of two villages, Ramyah and Ayta ash-Shab, that they wanted the villages to be evacuated before sunset today. Of course UNIFIL has refused to evacuate the villages indicating that they don't have the capacity and these requests have come where the assistance is required from the government of Lebanon.

This is something I thought you should know to let you understand the dynamics in the region and in the south.

Let me conclude, Mr. President, by stating very clearly and briefly that the authority and standing of this Council are at stake. People have noticed its failure to act firmly and quickly during this crisis. Today's events at ESCWA were in part an expression of that frustration. For the sake of the people of the region and of this Organization, I urge you to act, and to act now.

Thank you very much.

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• 31 July - Press Statement of the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Lebanon
On behalf of the United Nations humanitarian agencies in Lebanon, we strongly condemn the Israeli shelling that killed innocent and unarmed civilians in Qana in the early hours of this morning, nearly half of them children. Because access roads to the village had also been bombed and because of continuing bombardments, it took 6 hours before the Lebanese Red Cross could reach them.

This war has claimed the lives of more than 650 Lebanese civilians and injured more than 3100 Lebanese civilians. Unknown numbers are still under the rubble.

The toll of civilian deaths from the Israeli bombardment of Lebanon far exceeds the deaths of combatants. The targeting of civilians and essential civilian infrastructure is an egregious violation of international humanitarian law and can be considered war crimes.

The bombardment of sites with alleged military significance and which has repeatedly resulted in the killing of many innocent civilians cannot be justified.

The continuing Israeli bombardments of civilian centres and civilian infrastructure threaten to spread the humanitarian disaster to the entire population of Lebanon, as the ability to supply, resupply or deliver essential and life-sustaining services - food, medicine, water, fuel, electricity, health care, shelter - have systematically been cut off.

Even the evacuation of the wounded for treatment and the dead for burial has itself become an enormous risk to life and soul.

Preventable diseases are reappearing - hepatitis, diarrhea, scabies - which threaten to claim more lives. There are whole villages without access to water, food, fuel and electricity. Some hospitals have had to close down because of lack of these essential life-saving and life-sustaining services. Fuel and gas oil are the only sources of power generation in Lebanon and the stocks are depleting rapidly.

The Government of Lebanon, together with the vibrant Lebanese civil society organizations, would have been capable of provisioning the entire population affected by the war if there was not a blockade of the country by land, sea and air. The UN humanitarian organizations are working in close collaboration with the Lebanese Government and civil society organizations and the Lebanese and International Red Cross Movement, as well as in cooperation with all humanitarians.

On behalf of the United Nations humanitarian organizations in Lebanon, and in compliance with international humanitarian and human rights law, we demand immediate humanitarian access to all those in need, and we urge that the appeal of the UN Secretary-General for a cessation of hostilities, be immediately heeded and honoured. In times of war the protection of civilians must be paramount.

Mona Hammam
UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative
Beirut - Lebanon

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