United Nations, Aug 1 (IANS) UN humanitarians have said they are concerned that damage to southern Lebanon’s water systems and other infrastructure is affecting the more than 1 million displaced people returning home.
“A preliminary assessment by the South Lebanon Water Establishment found that damage to water systems in South and Nabatieh governorates has disrupted access to safe drinking water for more than 700,000 people,” the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Friday (local time).
It said that damage to reservoirs, pumping stations, boreholes and other facilities is increasing public health risks and affecting agriculture and livelihoods, reports Xinhua news agency.
OCHA said that more than 821,000 people have returned to their communities, but 360,000 remain displaced, including some 27,000 people living in collective shelters.
The humanitarians said that returning home does not mean people’s humanitarian needs have ended. Continued investment in humanitarian assistance and early recovery is essential to restoring basic services, supporting livelihoods, and helping communities recover safely and with dignity.
Earlier on Monday, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said that Israeli military operations in Lebanon have caused widespread civilian suffering and may amount to “war crimes.”
Speaking at a press conference in Beirut at the end of his four-day official visit, Turk said his office had documented “large-scale violations of international humanitarian law, some possibly amounting to war crimes.”
According to a statement released by the UN Information Centre, he said continued Israeli airstrikes, shelling and the use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas had caused heavy civilian casualties, widespread destruction and mass displacement.
Türk also announced that an impartial and independent assessment mission has begun gathering information and evidence on alleged violations committed by parties to the conflict since March 2.
Citing Lebanese authorities, Turk said more than 4,300 people have been killed and over 12,200 injured in Lebanon since March 2, including more than 135 healthcare workers as well as many journalists and media workers.
–IANS
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