U.S. Intervention at July 25 OCHA Briefing on the
UN Flash Consolidated Appeal for Lebanon

Statement by Ambassador Warren W. Tichenor
U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations
and other International Organizations in Geneva

Good Afternoon Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen.  On behalf of the Geneva-based Humanitarian Liaison Working Group, I would like to thank OCHA’s Gerald Putnam Cramer and his team for briefing us on the serious humanitarian situation in Lebanon.  

I also very much appreciate the opportunity to hear from Amb. Soufan about the humanitarian emergency facing his country.  We in the United States share his concern for the humanitarian situation in Lebanon.  We recognize that innocents on both sides are being hurt.  We have compassion for them – and want to start giving them as much help and aid as quickly as possible – and we are calling on our friends and allies to do the same in this vital effort.  Ambassador Soufan’s comments underscore the importance of having the Lebanese government play a key role in the humanitarian response efforts.  As Secretary Rice made clear in her meeting yesterday with Prime Minister Siniora, the United States is committed to a resolution of this crisis that contributes to the Lebanese government’s ability to exercise sovereignty over all of its territory.

Working with the United Nations, the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement, and other humanitarian partners, the United States is responding to the humanitarian needs we speak of today.  Secretary Rice yesterday authorized a major U.S. commitment of $30 million in immediate humanitarian assistance.  In addition to this financial support, President Bush has directed U.S. ships and helicopters to help deliver humanitarian supplies as three U.S.-donated medical kits arrived in Lebanon today, each of which has enough medicine and supplies to meet the needs of 10,000 people for a three month period.

We welcome the pledges made yesterday in New York at the launch of the Flash Appeal, recognizing that our efforts are part of a concerted international response.    It is our hope that contributions, including the generous pledges made by non-traditional donors from the region, be allocated through the UN and the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement in order to enhance the effectiveness of the international community’s efforts.

The United States remains deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation in Lebanon.  We urge the United Nations to dedicate strong leadership to the crisis, including the appointment of an experienced humanitarian coordinator.  We support the ongoing coordination between the Israeli government and the United Nations on establishing humanitarian corridors into Lebanon and facilitating the provision of humanitarian assistance. 

We, of course, also urgently want to end the violence.  At tomorrow’s meeting in Rome, Secretary Rice will join with other members of the Core Group to “help create conditions that can lead to a lasting and sustainable end to the violence.”  As she said yesterday, “The people of this region, Israeli, Lebanese, and indeed Palestinian, have lived too long in fear and in terror and in violence.  A durable solution will be one that strengthens the forces of peace and democracy in this region.”

It is the longstanding custom of the Humanitarian Liaison Working Group to avoid politics and instead focus on our humanitarian responsibilities, so I won’t go into more detail about the ongoing diplomacy except to say that the United States government is actively engaged on the way forward and that we are deeply concerned for the Lebanese people and what they are enduring.  Please allow me to conclude by stating that the United States will continue to offer strong support to the Government of Lebanon as it seeks to meet the needs of its people.  Thank you.