Background
The Israeli Air
Force launched more than 7,000 air attacks on about 7,000
targets in Lebanon between 12 July and 14 August, while the
Navy conducted an additional 2,500 bombardments. The attacks,
though widespread, particularly concentrated on certain areas.
In addition to the human toll - an estimated 1,183 fatalities,
about one third of whom have been children, 4,054 people injured
and 970,000 Lebanese people displaced - the civilian infrastructure
was severely damaged. The Lebanese government estimates that
31 "vital points" (such as airports, ports, water
and sewage treatment plants, electrical facilities) have been
completely or partially destroyed, as have around 80 bridges
and 94 roads. More than 25 fuel stations and around 900 commercial
enterprises were hit. The number of residential properties,
offices and shops completely destroyed exceeds 30,000. Two
government hospitals - in Bent Bail and in Meis al-Jebel -
were completely destroyed in Israeli attacks and three others
were seriously damaged.
In a country of fewer
than four million inhabitants, more than 25 per cent of them
took to the roads as displaced persons. An estimated 500,000
people sought shelter in Beirut alone, many of them in parks
and public spaces, without water or washing facilities.
 |
Damaged houses
in Sadiqqin |
Thirty four days
later, an uneasy ceasefire was put forward. In the aftermath
of the 'retaliation' and steps taken to neutralize the Hizbullah,
we saw massive destruction. Somehow it appeared to be meaningless.
Many wondered what was achieved. For certain though many lost
loved ones consisted of fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters
and children to many . Thousands more suffered because they
lost their work, their means of transportation, deprived of
water supplies and basic facilities. Children were unable
to go to schools and parents were unable to go to work. Life
there was at a standstill .Medical services were disrupted
and many needed medical and surgical attention.
 |
Girl with
missile in Sadiqqin |
Aman Peace Malaysia
I went with Aman Peace Malaysia to Tyre, south of Lebanon
on the 22nd of August 2006 for relief work. Few days prior
to departure was filled with planning of the relief work,
contacting local NGOs in Lebanon to gather information onsecurity, transportation, accommodation and getting the much
needed supplies. Aman Peace Malaysia with the aid of MSRI
managed to gather medical supplies worth RM 500 000.00, excluding
others supplies such as blanket etc.
 |
Damascus
airport |
The team under the leadership
of Dato Mukhriz Mahathir left for Damascus in the early morning
of the 22nd August. Upon arrival we took a coach to Tyre,
south of Lebanon. The road looked somewhat different from
what we saw in May 2006, when I went with the Malaysian Orthopaedic
Association Humanitarian (MOAH) team. There were large holes
here and there due to the bombing with charred cars and busses
everywhere. I can imagine the toll on life and the suffering
of the victims. Many bridges were destroyed and we had to
take the smaller road to reach our destination.
We reached Tyre after
a five hours journey and went straight to work.
 |
Supplies
in Damascus airport |
Tyre, South of
Lebanon
Historically, Tyre
existed since the era of Troy and have been experienced various
occupations and survived through many empires.
Instead of Beirut, why
we chose Tyre?
Tyre or Sour is the most
southern city of Lebanon and the nearest to the Israeli border
located in a very critical region known as Southern Region.
The region witnessed most
of the fighting that took place since the last 34 days of
war. Most of the bombs were dropped here and had the highest
casualty of the war.
Observation
Almost everybody
on the ground praised SH Nasrallah despite that the war was
sparked by the capturing of the two soldiers by Hezbollah
fighters. Banners congratulating Hezbollah and the fighters
were everywhere. To the Lebanese, the winner of the 34-day
war was undoubtedly, Hezbollah.
Compact discs of Hezbollah
activities especially their combat movement can be purchased
at any Cyber Café. The situation in Tyre was not tense
as one would aspect after a war. The people's movement was
unhurried, the wet market in the seaside near the port has
brisk business, supermarkets and groceries were well stocked
especially on food items. Bistro, fast food restaurants, road
side café and stalls ran on without any fear of another
attack. Beach was full with visitors and it seemed that the
war had happened a long time ago.
 |
Half of house
left due to missile |
Despite the near normal
atmosphere we were reminded of the recent war by the activities
of clearing debris and reconstruction in certain areas of
town. The United Nation's and NGO's vehicles were frequently
seen roaming here and there, indicating the extent of the
relief and humanitarian work needed to be done.
We visited Sadiqqin,
a small village at the border of Israel and Lebanon. We saw
road damaged, petrol pump station and electrical relay station
bombed and even ambulance were targeted. Residential houses
were badly damaged. We saw small craters due to missiles explosions,
where it was once were houses. Some of demolished houses were
not safe due to the cluster bombs. In some areas the smell
of dead corpses was still strong.
 |
On the ground
in Sadiqqin |
Some of the bombs dropped
by IAF (Israel Air Force) still didn't explode making the
clearance works slower. Due to the unexploded missiles and
the cluster bombs, the villager was unable to till their land.
Therefore the villagers lost their main source of income and
had to depend on charity and state assistance to survive.
Medical
work
Aman Peace Malaysia opened
a clinic in Tyre. The building for the clinic was given for
temporary use by the Mayor of Tyre. Dr Kassim , a volunteer
for Aman Peace Malaysia had initiated the organization of
setting up the clinic. We came to further equip the clinic
with medicine and other medical apparatus. The local were
ever helpful to help us.
 |
Supplies
in front of clinic in Tyre |
Since the opening, we
received approximately 25 - 30 patients per day, many were
children. Many had diarrhea, flu and skin infection.
We visited Saddiqin, a
village near the border which was terribly affected by the
bombing. We had the opportunity to visit a patient who had
been wounded by shrapnel during the war. His right leg below
the ankle had a large infected wounded and it was not treated
completely by the local medic due to heavy bombardment, shortage
of expertise and scarcity of medical supplies during that
particular moment.
Dr Kassim and I
cleaned and debrided the wound under local anesthesia. It
took more than one hour to complete the treatment. We visited
the patient several times and taught the family how to treat
the patient's wound.
Post
war situation
The war had caused the lost
of thousands of life not only the armed personnel but unarmed
civilian, with women and children. The total cost of damages
on both side reached billion of dollars. The land and water,
including the sea were facing potentially polluted.
Sources for water is being
polluted with the chemical and phosphorus from the unexploded
mine and bombs. There were rumors among the locals, that radioactive
material was dropped in the sea near the fishing village.
This was however not proven yet.
 |
Tape indicating
presence of cluster bombs |
The team had gathered
information for future humanitarian projects in Lebanon. We
had contacted and formed firm working relationship with the
local NGO's and authorities.
We also registered with
the United Nation agencies for future collaboration and sharing
of information. Among the useful information offered by the
United Nation is updating the humanitarian work by the NGO's,
status of cluster bomb clearing and information convoy for
the supplies. An NGO like Aman Peace could send supplies with
the convoy and be under the banner of the United Nation.
The team went back
via Malaysia Airlines from Damascus, Syria on the 25th August
2006.
Click here to view more photos, with commentary |
