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.