Civilians Fear for Safety as Violence Grows

Dorothea Krimitsas , media relations officer for Middle East and North Africa for the International Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva, was online Friday, July 21, at 11 a.m. ET to discuss efforts to evacuate and bring humanitarian aid to civilians caught in the violence in the Middle East. Israel told Lebanese residents to leave the southern sector of the country below the Litani River a day after airstrikes killed more than 50 people across Lebanon. An estimated 8,000 of the 25,000 U.S. citizens in Lebanon want to be evacuated, officials have said.

For more on the latest developments in Israel and Lebanon, see our discussion with Nick Pelham of the International Crisis Group.

ARTICLE: No Haven in a City Paralyzed by Dread

ARTICLE: First Flight of American Evacuees Arrives in U.S.

INTERACTIVE REPORT: Crisis in the Middle East

The transcript follows.

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Rockville, Md.: I have been reading daily about Israel's devastation of the Lebanese infrastructure, roads, bridges, etc. How has this hampered bringing of medical supplies and for those trying to flee the areas Israel sends warning for? What is the long-term impact health impact for the population? I have already read about thousands of IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) While foreigners are able to leave, where are the Lebanese able to go for safety?

Dorothea Krimitsas: Since the beginning of the military operations, hundreds of civilians have been killed or wounded, and it remains difficult to organize medical evacuations and to maintain health services. There has also been widespread destruction of public infrastructures. The Lebanese Red Cross, which is fully mobilized and present in different areas across the country, remains one of the only organizations able to evacuate war wounded and civilians under fire. Their range of action remains very limited. We at the ICRC are supporting the Lebanese Red Cross in order to maintain its emergency services fully operational. Moreover, the ICRC is currently stepping up its activities in Lebanon, to assist primarily the displaced people and the Lebanese Red Cross. There has been a first convoy of trucks with food and non food moving today from Beirut to Tyre. We have warehouses in Amman, and have set up another one in Cyprus.

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Arlington, Va.: So glad that the Red Cross is involved here. One question that's been bothering me is, how feasible are calls to evacuate, when it sounds like the transportation infrastructure has been severely compromised, and traveling vehicles are being attacked? Are there viable exit corridors for those civilians who wish to leave?

Dorothea Krimitsas: Indeed, there has been widespread destruction of public infrastructure. Major roads have been destroyed, but there are still secondary roads that can be used. The Lebanese Red Cross, which operates emergency medical services, have a limited range of action, because of the volatile security conditions. Rescue teams have reported new security incidents against ambulances and staff over the last days. It is essential that all the parties to the conflict respect the right of the civilian population to leave insecure areas, it is an obligation under international humanitarian law to protect and respect civilians in all circumstances, an not only in a "corridor".

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Tallahassee, Fla.: Is Israel breaching international laws regarding civilians. Can this country be accused of war crimes for what is currently occurring in southern Lebanon?

Dorothea Krimitsas: The high number of civilian casualties and the extent of damage to essential public infrastructure raises serious questions regarding respect for the principle of proportionality in attack. International humanitarian law is a benchmark against which military action will be measured. We are a humanitarian organization, and our great concern is about the consequences of this action. The issue of determining whether it is or not a war crime will be taken up by others than the ICRC. We are in an ongoing dialogue with the parties to the conflict regarding the respect of the International humanitarian law and we will continue to address these issues with concrete examples on the ground.

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London, U.K.: There have been reports that Red Cross convoys have been bombed by the Israeli Air Force in the Bekaa Valley. Can you confirm?

Dorothea Krimitsas: The ICRC has not suffered any security incident, but Lebanese Red Cross ambulances have reported security incidents, notably on 19 and 19 July.

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McLean, Va.: What humanitarian aid is available for Lebanese civilians? To whom should we donate to make sure it gets to them? What are Lebanon's prospects for reconstruction after this crisis?

Dorothea Krimitsas: Donate to the ICRC ! http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/iwpList2/Help_the_ICRC?OpenDocument

We have launched a preliminary appeal for 10 million Swiss francs, mainly to respond to the emergency needs of the internally displaced persons and to support the medical mission of the Lebanese Red Cross. The first ICRC convoy is currently moving from Beirut to Tyre. We are opening a logistics base in Cyprus, besides the one in Amman.

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Arlington, Va.: I've been to Cyprus and the tourist areas should be full in July; the rest of the island can get very hot and uncomfortable. Where are they housing evacuees, and how is the airport holding up to the vastly increased traffic?

Dorothea Krimitsas: I understand your concern, but I cannot answer your question... The ICRC is currently active in Lebanon, but we are not involved in the evacuations to Cyprus.

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Falls Church, Va.: Who pays the costs of evacuating American citizens? Is this cost absorbed by the Government, or are the evacuees expected to pay something toward their travel costs?

Dorothea Krimitsas: I cannot answer your question, as the ICRC is not involved in the evacuations. We are active on the ground in Lebanon to assist the civilian population, our first priority being to ensure that wounded and sick can be evacuated and treated.

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Fairfax, Va.: Thank you for your work with the International Red Cross. As you look at the crisis in the Middle East and our American citizens in the area, can you relate to us their feelings as to the obligation they feel this country has to get them out when they have traveled into an area which is the subject of travel warnings by the State Department? Do they tell you why it is all right to risk the lives of somebody else's sons and daughters in our military and foreign service to rescue them from risks they have chosen to take on?

Dorothea Krimitsas: I understand your concern, but I'm afraid I will not be able to answer your question. The ICRC is not involved in the evacuation of American citizens, others are taking care of that. Our first priority today is to ensure that the wounded and sick can be evacuated all over the country, that medical teams obtain access to the victims and can work safely. We are also stepping up our action in Lebanon to assist internally displaced persons and to support the medical services of the Lebanese Red Cross.

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Arlington, Va.: Some Internet news reports are claiming that Hezbollah is preventing civilians from leaving villages in the south. Have you heard or seen any evidence of this?

Dorothea Krimitsas: All the parties to the conflict are equally bound by the rules of international humanitarian law and must protect and respect civilian life. Civilians must be able to leave insecure areas if they wish so in safe conditions.

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Potomac, Md.: Is there anyone being flown in to provide additional staff to treat injuries?

Dorothea Krimitsas: The ICRC is currently expanding its staff. An ICRC war surgeon has arrived in Tyre to assess the needs at Jebel Amel hospital, which treats 85% of the wounded and sick people in the South of Lebanon.

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Dorothea Krimitsas: Right now, I am getting the news that our first convoy (2 trucks with food / non food aid for civilians) which left Beirut this morning has reached Tyre, after about 6 hours. We will distribute this aid in Tyre and in surrounding villages. Please also consult our latest news bulletin about our action in Lebanon, on our Web site http://www.icrc.org/Web/Eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/Lebanon-news-210706!OpenDocument

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