Q.
What are your main concerns today?
S.D. There is still no clear solution to the humanitarian situation,
and what I am worried about is whether the cease-fire will hold
or whether it is only temporary. The big problem is where will
the large number of returnees find shelter, especially those
whose villages have been destroyed. We were surprised by the
large number of people and the speed at which they started to
return home. I am concerned about the difficulties posed by
these large population movements.
We have not yet had time to finalize a plan of action for the
returnees. But we had to improvise when the country was being
bombed, so we will continue to improvise to bring immediate
assistance to people. The situation changes every 24 hours,
so we need to remain flexible.
Access is still a major problem. The roads and bridges have
been destroyed and it takes hours and hours to drive from one
area to another. The infrastructure has been destroyed, there
is no water, no electricity. Finding a sure way for aid to reach
those who need it is a major concern.
Q. Is the Lebanese Red Cross still pursuing the same
activities ?
S.D. Our teams continue to be mobilized and the mobile clinics
are still active. The Red Cross has been pulling bodies out
of the rubble of destroyed buildings, but not all the bodies
have been removed. We must continue to check out destroyed buildings
and remove the remaining bodies.
The Lebanese Red Cross youth volunteers are continuing to help
the displaced with distributions of food, water, and other relief
articles. We receive many goods from the ICRC and from other
National Societies.
Q. What are the current needs and priorities?
S.D. Apart from continuing humanitarian assistance to the displaced,
there are many needs – fuel, medicines, and cash to pay
for costs and expenses. We have to cover the expenses for volunteers,
such as food, shelter, fuel, transportation costs, clothing
and uniforms.
Our branches and first aid stations will need to be repaired
or rebuilt. We need to replace or repair ambulances and other
vehicles to transport assistance.
Our priority is to evaluate the current situation and put in
place a plan of action as quickly as possible. We must see who
is most vulnerable and what kind of help they need. We started
psychological support as soon as hostilities began, with the
help of 25 experts, in the schools where the displaced population
was sheltered, but now we must look at long-term programmes
in this field.
Q. Did you recruit new volunteers over the last few
weeks ?
S.D. No, because when people decide to volunteer for the Red
Cross, they must be ready for action in times of peace, as well
as in times of war. They must stay with us. But many doctors
and nurses spontaneously volunteered their services when hostilities
began, which we welcomed.
Q. What would you like to say about the work of the
Lebanese Red Cross teams who were seen on television screens
the world over?
S.D. I pay special homage to the humanitarian work and the heroism
of the young first aid volunteers who drive on damaged and destroyed
roads, or sometimes even through fields, to evacuate and transport
the wounded. In spite of assurances that our ambulances would
not be attacked, four ambulances were targeted. One first aider
was killed and six were wounded. Yet, in spite of the constant
danger, these young people are on the battlefield, risking their
lives to bring assistance to people.
Q. This situation must have been very difficult for
you and your family?
S.D. My family has not seen much of me in the last few weeks.
I have three children – two girls and a boy - and recently
they said to me, ‘Call us when you know that you will
be on television, that way we can see you’ ! (Sami Dahdah)
Q. How do you feel now that the cease-fire has come
into effect?
S.D. I must admit that we have some difficulty in grasping the
entire situation for the moment, because we are a little overwhelmed
by events. We only think of work, work, work, and we improvise
to help those who need it. We must respond immediately to many
kinds of requests and solve problems quickly, as they come up.
This conflict has shown the importance of the Red Cross, and
of our responsibilities. We have to manage some 5,000 volunteers
and this is a great challenge.
Our thanks to the Federation and to the many National Societies
from around the world which support us. The ICRC stayed by our
side and did good work in protecting us. This is a big family
and we feel we are not alone.
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Sheikh
Sami DAHDAH, President of the Lebanese Red Cross. (p14528)
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Vice-President
of the Lebanese Red Cross,
M. Walid KEBBE. (p14529)
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"The
Lebanese Red Cross youth volunteers are continuing to
help the displaced with distributions of food, water,
and other relief articles. We receive many goods from
the ICRC and from other National Societies." (p14530)
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"This
conflict has shown the importance of the Red Cross, and
of our responsibilities. We have to manage some 5,000
volunteers and this is a great challenge." (p14531)
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News
