Un Aid Official Calls For Lifting Of Blockade On Lebanon To Allow More Assistance
Israel’s continuing naval and air blockade of Lebanon should be lifted immediately to allow urgent assistance to reach
the hundreds of thousands of Lebanese who are returning to their homes, the United Nations deputy head of emergency
relief said today, while also warning of the dangers of unexploded ordnance from the conflict.
Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Margareta Wahlström told the Security Council that the end of the
fighting five days ago has already allowed rapidly expanding access for the humanitarian community to many of the
affected areas, but that the damage inflicted on road networks was making things very difficult.
“Despite significant progress within the first days of the ceasefire in reaching people previously cut off from aid
supplies, massive access problems remain the key obstacle to further accelerating the humanitarian response. The
enormous damage to most road and bridge infrastructure leading to the south requires an immediate lift `f the continuing
sea and air blockade on Lebanon.
Ms. Wahlström also spoke of the danger to the returnees, who number around 400,000, of
“unexploded artillery, airborne missiles, and cluster ammunition, including in residential areas and public buildings.”
“In the days since the truce went into affect, reports of civilian casualties, most notably from cluster bomblets and
sub-munitions, have already been reported. The contamination presents a significant obstacle to humanitarian efforts and
a risk to men, women, boys and girls returning to their homes and daily activities.”
The UN Mine Action Team, coordinated by the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS), is working with the Lebanese Government and
civil society on this problem, she said, while also calling on Member States to provide contributions for this vital
work.
Despite the challenges, the humanitarian community – both the UN and other agencies – was working closely with Lebanon’s
Government on all aspects of emergency assistance, she added. Ms. Wahlström also highlighted the resilience of the
Lebanese people and listing several key priorities for the aid effort over the next two months.
These priorities include providing assistance along routes of return and to home communities, including shelter
materials; securing sustained access for humanitarian convoys and speedy aid distribution to the most vulnerable;
addressing the prevailing security risks for relief workers and returnees – due mainly to unexploded ordnance; and
carrying out repairs to basic infrastructure.
Ms. Wahlström said there has been a growing response from the international donor community to last month’s flash appeal
for Lebanon, with more than $87 million received against the $165 million requested. UN agencies and partners will
revise the appeal over the next week to more accurately reflect and effectively address the changing needs of the
affected populations in Lebanon and Syria.
In related news, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that four UN humanitarian
convoys were dispatched today in Lebanon with supplies from the World Food Programme (WFP), the World Health
Organization (WHO) the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
UNHCR staff are now on the ground in the port city of Tyre, helping in the assessment of the worst damaged areas of the
south, a spokesperson said in Geneva, adding that the agency will join a five-day survey led by Lebanon’s Government
this weekend to determine the precise humanitarian needs.
WHO, which is coordinating the health sector response in Lebanon, will work with the Lebanese Ministry of Health and the
American University of Beirut over the next four days to assess some 800 health facilities to get a picture of the
needs, it said today.
Ends