Pakistan calls for immediate ceasefire in Lebanon
By Tariq Bashir 'Pakitan Times' Foreign Correspondent

GENEVA (Switzerland): Pakistan has called for immediate and comprehensive ceasefire to address the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon resulting from Israeli military operation.

Ambassador Masood Khan, Coordinator of the OIC Group on Human Rights and Humanitarian Issues in Geneva, told a meeting convened by the UN OCHA that as long as military operations raged, access would be a big problem and the space for humanitarian relief would remain extremely constricted.

In the meeting, Ambassador Gebran Soufan asked for swift action by the international community to save the people of Lebanon.

Ambassador Masood Khan commended the UN for launching its flash appeal of US $ 150 million for Lebanon.

He said "The OIC pays tribute to the people of Lebanon who are facing privation and suffering with perseverance and heroic stoicism."

He told the OCHA meeting that the OIC governments and NGOs were providing relief to the Lebanese people.

"Such relief can reach victims only after an immediate ceasefire or through the establishment of the inviolable humanitarian corridor", Ambassador Masood Khan said.

The OIC said that this crisis must not be allowed to spiral out of control. It warned the refugee caseload was increasing rapidly.

This, Ambassador Masood Khan said, that the UNHCR and other agencies should be helped to assist refugees in Syria and other transit point.●