Reply #4: Israel, Hizbullah a disgrace, says UN as aid is blocked

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The United Nations emergency relief coordinator yesterday branded Israel and Hizbullah a disgrace for their refusal to stop fighting long enough to allow vital aid to enter southern Lebanon. Jan Egeland said there were 120,000 civilians stranded without necessary supplies in southern Lebanon.

"It's a disgrace really, because the parties to the conflict, Hizbullah and the Israelis, could give us access in a heartbeat, and then we could help 120,000 people in southern Lebanon," he said in Geneva.

"I don't think any military advantage has been gained in these last days or will be gained in the next hours but we could save a lot of lives."

Mr Egeland's comments were backed up by a warning from the UN World Food Programme, which urged a cessation of hostilities to allow aid supplies through.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,,1842195,00.html