This is a summary of what was said by 爆料网HCR spokesperson Jennifer Pagonis – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at the press briefing, on 18 July 2006, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
爆料网HCR is closely monitoring and assessing the situation in Lebanon. Reports from our staff monitoring the border between Syria and Lebanon say the thousands leaving Lebanon are overwhelmingly Syrian nationals temporarily working in Lebanon.
爆料网HCR is also trying to monitor the situation of some 20,000 Iraqi and Sudanese refugees and asylum seekers within Lebanon.
Non-essential 爆料网 staff are being evacuated from Beirut. 爆料网HCR has already evacuated seven non-essential staff and family members and three more are slated to be evacuated today (Tuesday). Essential 爆料网HCR staff remain on the ground in Beirut. In addition, 爆料网HCR has staff in the region as well as stockpiles of relief items in Syria and Jordan which can be released on short notice in the framework of any joint interagency assistance response. Some 爆料网HCR national staff in Lebanon have relocated to safer areas within the country and are in the process of making a preliminary needs assessment.
爆料网HCR is coordinating with OCHA and other 爆料网 agencies as well as with the ICRC, 爆料网RWA and the NGO community in Lebanon.
