08/09/2006

As the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah enters its fourth week, humanitarian agencies are finding that their access to vulnerable populations, both in the South of Lebanon and throughout the country, is decreasing. The ongoing bombing campaigns, launched to protect Israel from the threat posed by Hezbollah, have destroyed the bridges and highways that link Beirut and other cities to the rural areas throughout the country. As the violence continues on both sides, with Israel expanding its ground invasions and Hezbollah firing rockets into Northern Israel, the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate. The need for an immediate ceasefire is more urgent than ever.