Lebanon's destruction continues

Jan Egeland has very rightly emphasised the need for taking up an evacuation and relief program to avoid deaths and destruction on an even larger scale. But there is yet no pressure on Tel Aviv to stop killing innocent Lebanese and thus obviate the relief operation, which of course, is not the answer to the conflict, which has already caused incalculable damage to Lebanon. Worse still, Israel Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said that hostilities are not going to end quickly, which means Tel Aviv will continue to press on until its military objective is fulfilled, no matter what price Lebanon will have to pay for it.

The point of worry is that Israel's plan has been fully endorsed by President Bush and the country will soon receive a consignment of precision bombs to enhance its firepower. Meanwhile, the UN has adopted the position of an ineffectual observer that can only appeal for peace, while the aggressor remains totally unimpressed and unmoved.

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The magnitude of the crisis is so great that people, mostly foreigners, are leaving the country as emergency evacuation from the worst hit areas is going on. Air raids have already destroyed hundreds of buildings and emergency services have been snapped in many places. And all this is happening in the name of fighting terrorism!

That the Israeli response was quite disproportionate to Hezbollah's kidnapping of three enemy soldiers has been established beyond any doubt. Nevertheless, the international community is yet to do anything tangible to protect the people of Lebanon. There was the talk of sending a UN stabilising force, but the fact remains that no worthwhile attempt has been made to stop Israel from waging a totally unjustified war.

Time could be a vital factor if the international community cares for the lives of the Lebanese people. The UN Security Council should immediately convene a meeting and pass a resolution calling for a ceasefire without wasting any more time.