PHA-Exchange> PHM and Middle East Conflict Fri nite

[Claudio]

From: Dr.Ghassan Issa 
Warmest greetings from Beirut and thank you all for your sincere solidarity and support for the Lebanese and Palestinian people during these difficult times of crisis.

let me start by saying that the situation is escalating and no political solution for the military conflict is foreseen in the near future:

The USA political and military support to Israel is unlimited and by aborting the possibility of having a cease fire, whether by the UN or by Rome conference, it is covering the time extension of the Israeli operations for 2 more weeks to achieve the objectives of their operations namely breaking dawn the Lebanese resistance, which seems to be a very farfetched objective by now.

updates on casualties and economical losses (see attached map):

Official estimation of economical losses between 12-24th of July, 2006 presented by the Lebanese Government to “Rome conference” on the 26th of July, 2006 :

 

Overall direct economical losses = 2071 million US Dollars distributed as follows:

 

1.     Infrastructure ( roads, bridges, airports, electrical power stations and cables, water supply stations and pipes, communication sector, etc,)  = 721 million USD

2.     Houses and commercial institutions = 1144 million USD

3.     Industrial institutions = 180 million USD

4.     Fuel stations = 26 million USD

 

Lebanese Ministry of Health estimation of No. of casualties until 28 July, 2006:

 

1.   No. of civilians killed = 600 of which 150 are still under rubble

2.     No. of civilians injured = 1850

 

One third of these casualties are children

 

3.     No. of civilians displaced = 800,000



Human rights organizations reports:

  1.. more that 4,500 air raids until 28 July, 2006
  2.. Israel is using illegal cluster and phosphorus bombs against civilian areas (http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2006/07/24/isrlpa13798.htm) 
  3.. The delivery of at least 100 GBU 28 bunker busters bombs containing depleted uranium warheads by the United States to Israel for use against targets in Lebanon will result in additional radioactive and chemical toxic contamination with consequent adverse health and environmental effects throughout the Middle East.  

PHM activities in Lebanon:

The Arab Resources Collective (ARC) is involved in different relief activities:
  1.. ARC's office is open to help different Lebanese and Palestinian relief and advocacy networks and NGOS in their communication and logestical efforts. 
  2.. ARC's staff are active in relief activities on the ground in their capacity as PHM members.  
  3.. PHM is part of Samidoun (stead fast) relief network in: 
        a- relief efforts of displaces people 
        b- medical and public health teams
        c- Media teams  
        d- ICT support 
        e- psycho-social support teams

what can Global PHM do?

suggest the following:

I.Global advocacy on :
    a.. what is happening in Lebanon and Palestine is not a natural catastrophy; it is a deliberate act of violence, a crime against humanity, by Israel fully supported by USA. 
    b.. IMMEDIATE CEASE OF FIRE is the most crucial demand needed now 
    c.. the humanitarian tragedy is immense and will continuo to be an ordeal long after a cease fire is achieved

    this could be achieved by:
      a.. start a PHM campain and an online petition 
      b.. activate PHM members and organizations in their countries to start political advocay campains with their govenments and against  USA and Israel embacies ( demonstations, petitions.....) 
      c.. PHM mission to Lebanon (and Palestine if possible): of course this is not a neutral facts finding mission, so it needs a huge media campain before they come on why they are coming, and more important, a bigger campain when they return as first hand witnesses with all media coverage and visiting delegates needed.

II. Direct Relief Support:
  a.. attached are proposals that we are circulating

N.B. by tomorrow the Samidoun Relief Network www.samidoun.org will be functional gradually ( please keep on trying if you don't get it tomorrow); we are using the same Drupal open access software (Wim) as PHM website. it is easy to link or syndicate with PHM website.

PHM Global secretariat committee
fax: +(9611)742077, 861535
mobile: +(9613)277035
arcgi at mawared.org
ghissa at cyberia.net.lb
(please use both)
www.mawared.org
www.samidoun.org
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