Situation in Lebanon – ICRC – Letter from Lebanon

Letter dated 5 October 1978 from the Permanent Representative of Lebanon to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

I have the honour to transmit to you herewith the text of two appeals dated October 1978 by the International Committee of the Red Cross concerning the situation in Lebanon.

I have the honour to request that you have these urgent appeals circulated is an official document of the General Assembly, under agenda item 30, and of the Security Council and that you publicize them as widely as possible.

ANNEX

Appeals dated 5 October 1978 by the International Committee of the Red Cross concerning the situation in Lebanon

A

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) announces today, Thursday, that on Wednesday its delegation in Lebanon launched an appeal to the parties concerned to conclude a truce for the evacuation of the wounded in the eastern part of Beirut.

ICRC states that its delegation in Lebanon and the Lebanese Red Cross are finding it increasingly difficult to go to the relief of the combat victims.  The ICRC emergency dispensary in the Ashrafieh district – which has already taken in dozens of wounded since the end of September – could not be reached with fresh supplies of medicaments and food on h October because of the intense gunfire.

Another matter of concern for ICRC and the Lebanese Red Cross is the situation of tens of thousands of East Beirut inhabitants who have fled to the mountains. A credit of 500,000 Swiss francs has been opened, according to ICRC, to enable local purchases of goods to be made in aid of these refugees. ICRC is taking steps to reinforce its delegation in Lebanon, which at present is composed of a dozen delegates and about 30 Lebanese employees.

The Lebanese Red Cross appeals urgently to the Lebanese Head of State, to all world Powers, to the United Nations and to all national Red Cross societies throughout the world to provide aid and to intercede to put an end to the slaughter  hundreds of thousands of people in Lebanon.  The civilian population, hospitals, dispensaries, public shelters and homes – none have been spared.

On behalf of humanity, on behalf of the most elementary principles of human rights, on behalf of the children, women and old people who are dying by the hundreds, we beg you to act.

B

The delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Lebanon launched on h October 1978 an appeal to the parties concerned to conclude a truce for the evacuation of the wounded in the eastern part of Beirut. The ICRC land the Lebanese Red Cross are finding it increasingly difficult to go to the : relief of the combat victims. The ICRC emergency dispensary in the Ashrafieh district – which has already taken in dozens of wounded since the end of September – could not be reached with fresh supplies of medicaments and food on  October because of the intense gunfire.

Another matter of concern for ICRC and the Lebanese Red Cross is the of tens of thousands of East Beirut inhabitants who have fled to the mountains. A credit of 500,000 Swiss francs has been opened to enable the ICRC delegation to make local purchases of goods in aid of these refugees.

In Geneva, ICRC is taking steps to reinforce its delegation in Lebanon, which at present is composed of a dozen delegates and about 30 Lebanese employees. It intends to dispatch at short notice a dozen more delegates, doctors and nurses. In addition, an appeal is in preparation asking donors (mainly Governments and National Red Cross Societies) to come forward with more funds.

This appeal will be launched as soon as cessation of the very severe fighting will allow an estimate to be made of the number of wounded, homeless and displaced persons.

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