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UN:
"SERIOUS
CONCERN" about
CIVILIANS CASUALTIES in
MIDDLE EAST (MaximsNews.com,
UN)
By Max Stamper
UNITED NATIONS - / www.MaximsNews.com
UN/
- 19 July 2006
- UN Agencies raised
"serious
concern" about
civilian casualties and
risks to health from the
spiraling violence in
the Middle East today
and stressed the need
for unobstructed access
for humanitarian
assistance.
The UN estimates that
over 500,000 people have
been displaced by
the conflict so far.
“Civilian
deaths include children,
with many more injured.
The psychological impact
is serious, as people,
including children, have
witnessed the death or
injury of loved ones and
destruction of their
homes and
communities,” UNICEF
and the WHO said in a
joint statement.
More
than 200 people have
been killed in Lebanon
alone and more than 550
injured. Hundreds of
thousands of people are
being displaced. More
than 30,000 are
seeking refuge in
schools and parks in and
outside Beirut.
“Unobstructed
access for humanitarian
assistance is critical
to stave off needless
death and suffering. The
protection of civilians
during conflict is an
obligation under
international
humanitarian law.
Unhindered humanitarian
access to health
facilities for the
injured, for those who
need care for chronic
conditions, and for
pregnant women, is
equally critical to the
prevention of more
civilian deaths in this
crisis.”
UN
Agencies are working to
save lives and protect
civilians by supporting
the basic services of
health, water and
sanitation, education
and psycho-social care.
The Agencies, in
coordination with the
Ministry of Health, are
also providing emergency
medicines and supplies
for acute and chronic
conditions.
UNICEF
and WHO will be part of
a larger UN appeal that
will be released next
week which will include
funding for a whole
range of humanitarian
assistance.
The
UN High Commissioner for
Refugees (UNHCR) has dispatched
an emergency mobile team
this week to Lebanon to
assess the situation of
those displaced by the
conflict.
UNHCR
has already carried out
a preliminary assessment
and with stockpiles of
relief supplies such as
tents, plastic sheeting
and blankets in
neighbouring Syria and
Jordan, and is well
placed to respond to any
immediate shelter needs,
the Agency said.
All
UN efforts are being
closely coordinated with
the Lebanese authorities
and international
partners such as the
International Committee
of the Red Cross. UNHCR
aims to provide
assistance to
approximately 10,000
displaced families –
mainly among the groups
that are now being
accommodated in
community shelters,
public buildings and
institutions.
UNHCR
is monitoring the border
between Syria and
Lebanon and they report
the thousands leaving
the country are
overwhelmingly Syrian
nationals temporarily
working in
Lebanon.
Some
Lebanese are also
leaving the country.
However, many
third-country nationals
trying to leave without
documents have been
stranded and UNHCR has
raised that issue with
the Syrian immigration
authorities.
See
the United Nations
Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
and the World Health
Organization (WHO)
today for further
reports. UNHCR has
relocated 10
non-essential staff and
family members outside
Lebanon.
~~~
MaximsNews.com,
An Independent Voice
from the U.N., provides
commentary and analysis
from leading world
figures: King Abdullah
II (Jordan), Sir Brian
Urquhart, Hans Blix,
Amb. Richard Holbrooke,
Anwar Ibrahim, Bianca
Jagger, Shashi Tharoor,
Kerry Kennedy, Ian
Williams, Stephen
Schlesinger, Sen.
Timothy E. Wirth, Marc
Morial, Barbara
Crossette, Amb. Pierre
Schori (Sweden), Amb.
William H. Luers, Gloria
Feldt, Jeffrey Laurenti,
Rory O'Connor, Genevieve
Stamper, Max Stamper and
others.
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