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Immediate cessation of hostilities, key factor in bringing peace in Mideast: UN

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Aug 10, IRNA
UN-Mideast-Conflict
The UN System in the Islamic Republic of Iran strongly condemns the continued targeting of civilians, particularly children in the on-going war in the Middle East and urges all parties to heed the call of UN secretary-general for an immediate cessation of hostilities.

Since the Lebanon conflict erupted on July 12, more than 1,000 people have been killed, more than 3,000 people injured and almost one million have been displaced, a press release issued by the UN Information Center here on Thursday announced.

According to UNICEF 30% of the people killed in the conflict are children under the age of 12 and the percentage of children among the internally displaced people in Lebanon is 45%.

A large number of UN personnel have lost their lives in the line of duty in the Middle East. A recent example was the death of four UN military observers in southern Lebanon following an attack by Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). The damage to the infrastructure is serious and relief efforts are being hindered by lack of security and damages to infrastructure.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has called for a "cessation of hostilities "and "concrete, practical steps" to end the hostilities in the region in order to protect civilians, specially women and children, from further attack. It is a call for parties to immediately stop the conduct of hostilities to allow space for humanitarian, political and diplomatic initiatives.

The secretary-general believes a political framework is needed so that a cessation of hostilities can be transformed into a longer-term process of enduring peace. Such a framework should address several issues, including captives, delineation of Lebanon's border and a mechanism for monitoring and guaranteeing its implementation.

Meanwhile the international community must come up with a coherent achievable package that all parties can endorse. Its implementation must proceed in parallel to avoid falling into the sequencing trap.

And for any solutions to last, the secretary-general supports constructive engagement of the countries of the region, including Syria and Iran.

Annan in his peace initiative proposes that a strong economic package must be provided to Lebanon, and a donor framework should be established to secure the funding for reconstruction and development in the country.

In order to evaluate the humanitarian situation in the Middle East, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Jan Egeland traveled to Lebanon, northern Israel and occupied Palestinian territories effective on July 21, 2006. In his report submitted to the UN Security Council on July 28, Egeland called for the immediate protection of the civilian population in all three-war zones.

He reiterated that the humanitarian situation in Lebanon is dramatic with tens of thousands fleeing the fighting; hundreds wounded; and, dozens killed every day.

Meanwhile, on July 24, the United Nations launched a $149 million flash humanitarian appeal for Lebanon to provide food, health care, logistics, water and sanitation, protection and common services for the next three months to an estimated 900,000 people affected by the conflict. So far in response to the appeal contributions from the international community stands at more than $40 million. United Nations appreciates the cash or kind humanitarian assistance donated to the Lebanese people by the government and people of the Islamic Republic of Iran and encourages increased support from Iran and other countries towards the priorities in the Appeal.

Food stocks in many parts of Lebanon are running low. Shortages of water are already a reality in parts of southern Lebanon due to a lack of electricity and fuel. The possibility of shortages of medical supplies in health facilities in the coming weeks is of growing concern. While medical and food stocks are available, delivery is almost impossible in many parts of the country due to lack of security. Hospitals and medical centers are rapidly reaching the point at which they will need to be restocked. A fuel crisis is considered to be imminent.

The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health estimates that around 60% of the hospitals will cease to function by the end of the week if the fuel shortage continues. WFP is shipping urgently needed diesel via Limassol though it is unlikely to arrive before August 14. Half will be available for key infrastructure, while the other 200mt will permit dispatch of relief convoys.

As of Sunday, August 6, for the first time since the start of the ongoing crisis, humanitarian convoys reached internally displaced persons (IDP ) sheltering in eastern Lebanon, delivering vital supplies to Zahle and surrounding villages.

WHO is supporting the Ministry of Public Health with the management of three warehouses, one shared with UNWRA, with a focus on the influx of medical and non-medical supplies.

Four trucks have safely arrived in Zahla in South Lebanon, providing enough assistance for an estimated 10,000 internally displaced people who have fled the south. Two vehicles were loaded with UNICEF medical supplies and diapers, one with medical kits plus NPA food and milk powder, another with UNDP sanitary goods.

WFP dispatched another 15-truck convoy to the southern port of Tyre. This included: one truck packed with WFP wheat flour, three carrying UNICEF water and water kits, medical supplies and sanitary materials, two loaded with Lebanese Higher Relief Committee food, one with UNHCR shelter materials and eight for UNRWA, destined for Palestinian camps.

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