Beirut hit by massive fuel shortage

[leftchick]

Traffic is being hindered in northern Beirut as motorists clamour for fuel around the city. The World Health Organisation (WHO) says the fuel shortage in Lebanon pose a great danger to health. The WHO has warned that if fuel is not delivered this week, 60% of all hospitals will not function properly.

Some motorists are said to have queued over night to be the first in line to receive the much needed fuel. Fuel is in short supply in Lebanon, as many of the main roads leading into the country have been destroyed - making it difficult for tankers to refill the drying gas pumps.

The World Health Organisation has urged all parties to secure safe passage of fuel as matter of priority.


http://www.sabcnews.com/world/the_middle_east/0,2172,132683,00.html

[dipsydoodle]

1. Hardly surprising

given the state of their roads and ex-bridges.

Such issues just make bad situations worse and an inability for hospitals to function properly is simply appalling. x(

[leftchick]

2. The Israeli Naval Blockade is blocking Fuel and Aid Deliveries!

I just am astounded at what is happening right before our eyes. Literally thousands could die because of this.

:(

<snip>

A Greek ship loaded with Red Cross supplies had been due Monday but was denied permission to dock in Tyre and was diverted to Sidon, north of the Litani, Huguenin said. Israeli warships have blockaded ports since the conflict began, only letting aid ships into Beirut and occasionally into the southern ports.

"It seems the military buildup has really begun in the last two days. It has certainly been a lot noisier," he said of the aerial bombing of areas around Tyre and south on the road to Naqoura.

The Red Cross estimates there are still 100,000 people south of the Litani. Among them are 27,000 in Tyre, 40,000 Palestinian refugees living in four camps that surround the city and 33,000 in villages.

Huguenin said the Red Cross has distributed aid throughout Tyre and has some supplies meant for villages south and east of the city, but is unable to deliver them.

"What do we do next?" he said. "We are getting phone calls from isolated areas in the south close to the border from people who need food and medicines."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060807/ap_on_re_mi_ea/mideast_fighting_aid

[Name removed]

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[LostinVA]

7. The new rules were established to help keep discourse civil

Since certain posters couldn't control their own behavior.

I for one am glad of it. It's not censorship or Neoconservatism (???)... it's helping certain posters turn DU into a mudpit of vitriol.

[dipsydoodle]

8. I understand what you are saying

but the end result appears to have been that some have left and rejoined under new names. That's according to another thread from yesterday.

[LostinVA]

9. Oh ho -- I didn't know that....

Is that thread still sround???

[dipsydoodle]

12. It was a thread

within a posting. Didn't keep it - the thought of it just sort of amused me

[The Stranger]

10. There were already pages of rules in place to keep discourse civil.

Although I don't usually comment on other adults' "behavior" unless it inovlves a sociology or anthropology study. Usually, that is a term used for very small children.

Debate is good. Those who see a "mudpit of vitriol" have the choice not to click on a certain post, or to take what they like and leave the rest. That is actually the adult thing to do.

[LostinVA]

13. The adult thing to do is not make DU into a mudpit of vitriol

THAT is not discussion or debate. THAT is not adult. That is baiting and flaming and everything else.

I am the adult, and I should be able to click on any post on DU without seeing rabid and disgusting and uncalled for vicious name calling. I -- and others -- should be able to post a legit criticism of a sovereign nation's actions without being called "Jew Basher," or compared to Hitler.

The "pages and pages" of rules do not usually apply to I/P subjects -- that's why it has it's own dedicated forum.

If you truly haven't noticed the morass of vitriol in many threads the last few weeks, then you must have been on www.knittingforfun.com or something.

[dipsydoodle]

14. I couldn't resist

hitting tht link. Did you just register it ? :rofl:

[LostinVA]

15. No! Giggle

Does it really exist?

[dipsydoodle]

16. It said

it had just been registered !

[LostinVA]

17. Hehehe -- I just made it up

[The Stranger]

18. A "mudpit of vitriol" to one may be the "spirited debate unavailable else-

where" to another.

That is why there are presumptions AGAINST censorship -- so people may do it and choose for themselves.

[allemand]

11. BBC: Lebanese hospital crisis warning (because of fuel shortages)

Almost two thirds of hospitals in Lebanon could "cease to function" this week because of fuel shortages, the World Health Organization has warned.

Other health facilities could also be affected, unless fuel is allowed through as a priority, the WHO said.

Damage to infrastructure in the ongoing conflict has left them relying on fuel to run generators, the WHO said.

The WHO says power is needed to operate services including theatres, babies' incubators and fridges for vaccines.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/5255996.stm

[leftchick]

19. pregnant women, cancer patients, dialysis patients

people on life support, premies, all at risk of dying because of a government breaking international law.

:grr: