The coastal roads to the south and Nabatieh are crowded with cars, vehicles, and trucks of the returnees, in addition to convoys of humanitarian aid — including medicine, food supplies and fuel.
The country is still under blockade (sea and air) until the Lebanese army is deployed in the south, supported by the UN peacekeeping forces, and in compliance with the 1701 resolution.
The Higher Relief Council (HRC) in Lebanon reports that the total number of Lebanese killed in the conflict stands at 1,110 and the number of injured is 3,941. The removal of rubble and corpses is happening, and collective funerals are taking place in various locations.
MECC's Inter-Church Network for Development and Relief (MECC/ICNDR) Regional Coordinators, Robert Nicholas and Gaith Maalouf, have returned to their towns in south Lebanon. They have started to re-assess the needs and the movement of people returning and to evaluate the most suitable time to start the post-crisis response. MECC/ICNDR is now also engaged in increasing its capacity in both Beirut and the south, by setting up warehouses in the different areas and field workers to carry out the crisis and post-crisis operations.
To date, ICNDR has distributed 4,583 food and non-food parcels and 463 mattresses, responding to 59 urgent requests from different centers and organizations. In relation to the water and sanitation component, the Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) team was visiting south Beirut and Saida today to re-assess the situation. They report that most of the people are leaving the refugee centers and there is urgent need to support their return to their original places. |
