One Third of Lebanese Citizens Displaced

INTERNATIONAL 08.04.2006 Friday - ISTANBUL 16:45

One Third of Lebanese Citizens Displaced
By Kursat Bayhan - Osman Erol, Beirut - Putrajaya
Friday, August 04, 2006


Life conditions in Lebanon, a country that has been under Israeli bombardment for 23 days, are worsening.



Disappointed by the international communitys failure to support Lebanon, Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora appealed to the international community through the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC). Siniora recalled that one million Lebanese people have been displaced due to the Israeli offensive.

A majority of homes have been destroyed, with some citizens fleeing to northern Lebanon for safety. The death toll surpasses 900, with one third of victims under the age of 12.

Israeli jets pounded airports, bridges, roads, and power plants, destroying the Lebanese infrastructure.

On Thursday, Israeli jets bombed the southern suburbs of Beirut, killing three members of a Lebanese family, including a child.

Israeli troops are floundering against Hezbollah.

Nearly 10,000 Israeli troops are trying to seize hills in Bint Jbeil, Tibnin, and Nabatiyah; however, they are failing to break Hezbollah resistance.

Thursday was the deadliest day of fighting for Israel with eight civilians killed in Hezbollah rocket strikes and four soldiers killed in battle.

The OIC once again called for an immediate cease-fire.

A statement was released following the OIC meeting held in Malaysia. The member countries demanded the United Nations Security Council fulfill its responsibilities by securing an unconditional and comprehensive cease-fire.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) also showed harsh reaction to the Israeli offensive.

The US-based HRW stated the Israeli army deliberately bombed Lebanese civilians, adding that some of its attacks constitute war crimes. In some instances, Israeli forces appear to have deliberately targeted civilians. The failures cannot be dismissed as mere accidents and cannot be blamed on wrongful Hezbollah practices, the group said in a report released on Thursday.

The reported was based on information provided by survivors of Israeli attacks, hospital officials, aid organizations, and eye witnesses. Israeli forces have fired with warplanes and artillery on dozens of civilian vehicles, many flying white flags, the report further said.