The European Union (EU) on Friday expressed concern at Israeli
air strikes on transportation routes north of Beirut and called on
both warring parties to ensure corridors for humanitarian aid
remain open.
European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid Louis Michel said in
a statement that the bombing of roads that have been previously
cleared as safe for evacuation and humanitarian aid could have a
major impact on the delivery of EU aid.
He said the EU needs guarantees for the safety of its people on
the ground and urged relevant parties to respect international
humanitarian laws.
Access both to and from Lebanon as well as movement within
Lebanon has been seriously affected by Israel's assault on Lebanon
Friday, including attacks on four bridges on the main north-south
coastal highway linking Beirut to Syria. The strikes severed the
only remaining major road link between Lebanon and Syria.
European Commissioner for External Relations and Neighborhood
Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner also voiced concern over the
deteriorating humanitarian situation in Lebanon.
"Harming those who have done no harm does not help anybody. Both
parties have a responsibility to ensure that corridors for the safe
provision of aid to the needed Lebanese are open and respected,"
she said Friday.
The EU said the Israeli attacks made it more difficult to
provide humanitarian aid by land to the Lebanese population in
need, especially those displaced in the south.
(Xinhua News Agency August 5, 2006)
