BEIRUT (Palestine Foundation Information Center) A top UN official warned Wednesday that Lebanon was staring down a “catastrophic” humanitarian crisis as Israel’s ongoing attacks on civilian areas displaced 600,000 people.
“Lebanon finds itself facing a conflict and a humanitarian crisis of catastrophic proportions,” Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the UN special coordinator for Lebanon, told a briefing.
Hennis-Plasschaert expressed hope to see Israel respond to many calls and appeals that are out there for de-escalation.
A call by the US and France for a 21-day truce between Israel and Hezbollah “is still on the table,” she said, calling for enforcing a much-violated UN Security Council resolution.
“We need a realistic roadmap for the implementation, by both sides, of resolution 1701. And this must include clear implementation and enforcement mechanisms,” the UN official said.
“At the end of the day, it is the lack or non-implementation of resolution 1701 over the past 18 years that led to today’s harsh reality,” she told reporters.
“The joint call for a 21-day ceasefire, as launched by the US or led by the US and France, I think is still on the table and very relevant, so we should not dismiss it. I don’t think that new initiatives will add to it,” she added. “The many appeals and calls for a ceasefire are crystal clear. We need a window for diplomatic efforts to succeed.”
