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Lebanon: UN emergency aid distributed in Tyre, fuel supplied to hospitals

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Aug 16, IRNA
Iran-UN-Lebanon
A UN spokesman said that emergency aid from the world body was distributed Tuesday to war-devastated Lebanese in the southern port city of Tyre and tons of fuel were sent to hospitals to keep them operating.

A press release issued by the United Nations Information Center (UNIC) quoted its spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, on Wednesday as saying to reporters in New York that two UN-chartered ships were unloading supplies in the Lebanese capital Beirut.

"Seven of the 24 trucks have already distributed food and water in Tyre and nearby villages, while 14 are proceeding to neighboring villages today (Tuesday)," the spokesman added.

"A World Health Organization (WHO) team is in southern Lebanon to evaluate damage caused to sanitation infrastructure. WHO also reports that together with the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) it has transported 60 tons of fuel to South Lebanon for 18 hospitals to cover their operational needs for the next 10 days."
In response to the threat of unexploded ordnances and landmines, UNICEF has launched an information campaign to raise awareness of the danger they pose, Dujarric said, adding that a demining team from the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has conducted 36 controlled explosions of unexploded ordnances.

Thousands of displaced Lebanese both within Lebanon and from Syria are streaming back to their homes since the UN-brokered cessation of hostilities started Monday, with the UN High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) saying Tuesday that nearly 22,000 had crossed the border adding to the 16,000 that returned yesterday, according to the UNIC press release.

It added that teams from the refugee agency are monitoring the return of evacuees from Syria, handing out emergency supplies and helping with transportation as well as identifying vulnerable cases that require additional help.

"The Government of Syria has asked for UNHCR assistance with transportation, which could be needed by many of the 180,000 Lebanese who fled to Syria," UNIC quoted UNHCR spokesperson Jennifer Pagonis.

"Inside Lebanon, UNHCR teams have set up at major points on the return routes and are distributing assistance such as plastic sheeting, mattresses, water and other supplies," she said.

Pagonis also said that UNHCR expected a considerable number of displaced people both in Syria and Lebanon to need continuing assistance until they are able to go home as their villages may be hard to reach because of the bomb damage or unexploded ordnances.

According to the press release, Pagonis was further quoted as saying the agency is prepared to assist up to 50,000 Lebanese who may delay their return from Syria and that the arrival of UNHCR aid for internally displaced Lebanese is accelerating with one C-130 aircraft landing in Beirut today and more being planned.

1394/2321/1414