LEBANON / SYRIA: Sidon's municipality offer assistance to the displaced, as more refugees arrive in the city; aid on its way from Syria

Displaced Lebanese families were filling up schools and parks on Tuesday (July 25), as more and more people fled their homes and villages as Israel's bombardment continued. In the sea port town of Sidon, refugees from across Southern Lebanon had been arriving in the thousands. Sidon's municipality was providing temporary shelter in one of the town's main parks. Families were forced to survive on what they had been able to carry. Washing their children in buckets and feeding them whatever food was available, women in the shelters were trying to keep life as normal as possible for their children. Um Wa'el, a mother of seven, was among them. "Israel does not distinguish between children, the elderly (and militants). They are targeting civilians," she said. Municipality workers distributed food and water to the families, who waited for evacuation in the soaring heat. "The municipality of Sidon is taking in displaced families from all over the country, in great numbers. We are bringing them here to the park until we find an appropriate place to send them to," Awny Jafeel, a municipality employee said. Lebanon says Israel's bombardment has displaced a fifth of its population. A total of 410 people in Lebanon and 42 Israelis have been killed in the conflict. The third consignment of Red Cross aid entered Syria on Tuesday. The latest arrival from Jordan included 3 trucks, carrying essential medical supplies, and food. It was expected to reach Lebanon later on Tuesday at the country's northern border with Syria.

ITN Source | July 26, 2006

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