UN urges for diplomatic discussions about Lebanese crisis
The UN urges influential countries to undertake diplomatic discussions to defuse tensions in Lebanon, according to Asharq Al-Awsat plus agencies on September 24th.
The hostilities on the Israeli-Lebanese border have significantly increased recently, upon the pager blast targeting Hezbollah carried out by Israeli forces on September 18th.
Another Israeli airstrike on September 23rd killed 182 people in Lebanon and injured 727, making September 23rd “the deadliest day in Lebanon in nearly a year of conflict with Israel.”
Hospitals in the country are “overwhelmed”, claimed WHO official during a press briefing in Geneva.
“We have some evidence, and we have some documentation that shows that at least there were some attacks on health facilities, even the ambulances as well” he stated.
During the press briefing, spokesperson for Turk Ravina Shamdasani commented “UN High Commissioner Volker Türk calls on all States and actors with influence in the region and beyond to avert further escalation and do everything they can to ensure full respect for international law,” adding “The methods and means of warfare that are being used raises very serious concerns about whether this is compliant with international humanitarian law”.
READ: Hezbollah says commander alive after Israeli strike in Beirut
Matthew Saltmarsh, spokesperson for the UN refugee agency, said that the agency is working towards founding new shelters for the great number of people that are expected to flee their homes in Lebanon.
“We’re looking at tens of thousands (of displaced), but we expect that those figures will start to rise.”
“The situation is extremely alarming. It’s very chaotic, and we are doing what we can to support the government.”
Asharq Al-Awsat/agencies
