UN aid convoy arrives in Lebanon

A United Nations relief convoy arrived in Beirut from Syria on Saturday, carrying 140 tons of emergency aid equipment for civilians displaced by Israel's bombardment of Lebanon, the UN refugee agency said.

The convoy brought blankets, mattresses and cooking equipment, which will be distributed among those taking refuge in mountainous areas outside the capital city of Beirut, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said in a statement.

Two more UN aid convoys are scheduled to reach on Sunday and Monday, bringing tents to relieve crowding in public buildings where many of the displaced are sheltering.

The UNHCR estimates that up to 800,000 people in Lebanon -- nearly a fifth of the country's population -- have fled their homes due to the bombardments.

The arrival of the UNHCR's vehicles was delayed in Damascus due to security concerns. The UN's top official for refugees, Antonio Guterres, has issued a call for safe access to Lebanon for humanitarian staff to help the displaced.

Source: Xinhua