Feature story - August 11, 2006
Over 75 tons of essential medical supplies have been safely transported to Lebanon via sea, following a joint operation between Greenpeace and Medecins Sans Frontieres, in which three voyages were made by the Rainbow Warrior between Larnaca in Cyprus and Beirut.
Rainbow Warrior arrives in Beirut with supplies for the MSF humanitarian mission to Lebanon.
The humanitarian cargos consisted of essential relief equipment,
including medical equipment, dialysis material, drugs, hygiene kits
and fuel, which was transported on the three shuttle voyages,
starting on 2 August and ending today at 0900 when the Rainbow
Warrior arrived back in Larnaca.
"We are very happy to have been able to play our part in
delivering much needed humanitarian supplies to parts of Lebanon
which have become inaccessible due to the current conflict" said
Bruno Rebelle, programme director of Greenpeace International. "The
crew and volunteers on board the Rainbow Warrior worked tirelessly
to load and transport the cargo under difficult conditions, and
have completed the missions in a professional and efficient
manner."
At every stage, Greenpeace and MSF ensured through close liaison
safe passage for the ship and crew. On each leg of the journey
between Larnaca and Beirut the Rainbow Warrior obtained security
clearance with the Israeli Defence Force.
"We are very grateful to Greenpeace and the crew and volunteers
aboard the Rainbow Warrior. Use of the ship has allowed us to
transport large volumes of relief goods into Beirut, which had
previously been a major logistical problem due to damaged roads and
lack of security guarantees on vehicles." said Jérôme Oberreit,
operational director for MSF in Brussels. "MSF's challenge now is
to continue that transport on land from Beirut to the south of
Lebanon, where the need is most acute."
The Rainbow Warrior will shortly resume her tour of the
Mediterranean to highlight the severe problems for the marine
environment caused by unsustainable and illegal fishing and coastal
development, and continuing Greenpeaces' campaign demanding the
setting up of marine reserves in the Mediterranean and
elsewhere.
Medecins Sans Frontieres has around 50 international staff
working in areas in Lebanon that are severely affected by the
conflict. The emphasis in MSF's activities is on supporting
Lebanese health workers, setting up additional health posts and
mobile clinics where necessary, and distributing basic materials
(shelter, hygiene kits, cooking utensils, baby powder milk) to
displaced families.