Lebanon aid ship blocked in Cyprus
Agence France-Presse
Last updated 08:45pm (Mla time) 08/11/2006
BEIRUT - An aid ship due to bring supplies to the Lebanese port of Tyre has still not sailed to the city, despite an earlier Israeli security clearance, the International Committee of the Red Cross said Friday.
On Wednesday the ICRC said the long delayed cargo of relief supplies had sailed from Larnaca in Cyprus following security clearance from Israeli forces.
But the ship, which is carrying 100 tons of medical supplies and emergency kits, was still docked in Cyprus Friday, ICRC spokesman Roland Huguenin said.
Israel has imposed a sea blockade on Lebanon since it launched its massive offensive on July 12.
Until the ship arrives, the ICRC is organizing the transport of several tonnes of food on two trucks from the main southern city of Sidon to the Litani River north of Tyre.
Two bridges across the river were destroyed by Israeli bombardment more than two weeks ago, cutting off Tyre from the rest of the country.
The boxes of supplies will be "carried manually across the river and then re-loaded onto other trucks, which makes us lose precious time," Huguenin told Agence France-Presse.
Since Tuesday, the Israel military has warned that it will strike any vehicle that moves south of the Litani river.
Aid agencies have warned that relief convoys are being paralysed by the threat of Israeli bombardment, cutting at least 120,000 people off from desperately needed supplies.
