Alexander G. Higgins, "UN: Lebanon aid plan not working," Associated Press, August 11, 2006.

GENEVA -- The top U.N. humanitarian official said Thursday that relief workers have not been able to bring lifesaving aid to tens of thousands of people in Lebanon, and that the U.N. Security Council must act to stop Israeli and Hezbollah fighting.

Jan Egeland said a plan worked out with Israel, Lebanon and Hezbollah to funnel aid through humanitarian corridors has not worked the way each side had promised.

"It's a disgrace really because the parties to the conflict, the Israelis and Hezbollah, could give us access in a heartbeat and then we could help 120,000 people in southern Lebanon," Egeland said.

Egeland said the fuel shortage has become "the single most worrying humanitarian crisis at the moment," noting that four hospitals in southern Lebanon already have run out.

The World Health Organization said it has enough fuel to keep hospitals functioning for a week as soon as it can move it by convoy.

The World Food Program also appealed to Israel and Hezbollah to allow relief assistance to reach victims in southern Lebanon.Recommend this Post

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