Humanitarian Aid

Appeal For Medical Aid For Lebanon

Emma visited Lebanon in the middle of August 2006, just before the cease-fire came into effect, and was witness to an Israeli bombardment in a residential area in Beirut . She met the President of Lebanon, the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the Parliament, the leaders of the Parliamentary factions, the religious leaders, the representatives of WHO, the UN and civil society. Although access was severely restricted to the south of the country by the Israeli Army, she was able to gain access with the Lebanese Military.

Following this visit Emma made the following comment, “I believe this is the first time since 1945 that wholesale aerial bombardment of civilian areas has taken place. When the American’s bombed Iraq and Afghanistan mistakes were made, but they targeted specific buildings with known terrorists in them. It cannot be compared to what I have seen here. There is no logic to the bombing of Lebanon ’s civilian areas. It is completely random. This is not war; it is the slaughter of the innocents. If this conflict goes on people will be driven to the extremist factions, and nobody wants that. It may have a fatal impact on the drive to introduce democracy in the Middle East . There is also a risk that Lebanon ’s long tradition of tolerance and democracy is lost.”

AMAR International Charitable Foundation , chaired by Emma, has launched an appeal for funds for medical support for Lebanon . The foundation plans to send medical supplies to Lebanon and work with Lebanese health professionals.

lick here to find more about Emma’s visit in Lebanon .