LEBANON: United Nations convoy arrived in Qana to distribute aid two days after the single biggest Israeli attack on the south killed at least 54
Record ID:
1542716
LEBANON: United Nations convoy arrived in Qana to distribute aid two days after the single biggest Israeli attack on the south killed at least 54
- Title: LEBANON: United Nations convoy arrived in Qana to distribute aid two days after the single biggest Israeli attack on the south killed at least 54
- Date: 1st August 2006
- Summary: SLATE INFORMATION
- Embargoed: 16th August 2006 12:42
- Keywords:
- Location: Lebanon
- Country: Lebanon
- Topics: War / Fighting
- Reuters ID: LVA7IU563OFSJEKIR0DZF77UC7MO
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: United Nations aid convoys arrived in Qana on Tuesday (August 01) to distribute aid supplies to families in the war-torn village two days after an Israeli strike on the area killed 54 civilians in the deadliest single attack in Israel's nearly three-week war against the Lebanese Shi'ite Muslim group.
UN volunteers distributed food and medical supplies to the villagers whose homes have been turned into rubble. The southern village of Qana was preparing to bury bodies of those killed in the attack later on Tuesday.
The Qana bombing sparked international outrage and calls for a swift end to the fighting.
The convoys arrived in the battered village after Israel agreed to a 48-hour air raid suspension in the south.
International aid agencies were hoping to take advantage of the 48-hour suspension but confusion surrounding the terms, coupled with fighting, meant it has made little difference to operations on the ground.
One of the Qana residents, Mohammed, said he did not want the UN's aid supplies, but instead a united stand against Israel's military offensive.
"The supplies only arrived today but we don't want aid. What we saw here two days ago was biggest proof of massacres (being committed). Thirty-seven child were killed in one massacre. 57-61 people were dead. These aid supplies will not help. We want for everyone to unite and take a position on a ceasefire," he said.
The UN said on Monday (July 31) access for desperately needed aid convoys to southern Lebanon had not improved. A spokesman in Lebanon, said the United Nations was forced to stick to the same procedure it was using before the suspension, trying to get clearance for each aid convoy from the warring parties before leaving Beirut.
The United Nations estimates up to 900,000 people have been displaced by the bombing and fighting in Lebanon but many civilians are still trapped, too poor to get transport or too scared to run the gauntlet of Israeli air strikes. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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