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Beirut Hospital: Oil Still Out of Reach
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ShareAugust 02, 2006 3:29 PM
As the American University Hospital in Beirut uses the last of its oil, the best chance for more sits on an oil tanker called the Afrodite waiting off the Lebanese coast halted by an Israeli blockade. As ABC News previously reported, Israeli forces are worried the fuel could be used by Hezbollah in the conflict with Israel.
ABC News has since learned that at one point the Afrodite received the green light from the U.N. to deliver its supply, but the ship's captain was not convinced. "The captain wants assurances from the Israeli Defense Forces that he'll be given safe passage," acting University President George Tomey told ABC News.
Tomey says the hospital received some fuel today from the country's reserve supply, but only enough for one day's consumption. The University has started to economize its energy use by shutting off the central air conditioning system on campus and raising the hospital's thermostat.
But the hospital is not the only one facing an energy crisis. The Daily Star, Lebanon's English language newspaper, reported Monday that according to oil importer Bahij Abu Hamzeh, the country has "enough [fuel] stock to last 10 days, after which if no imports of fuel are allowed there will be a disaster. Some gas stations have already posted handwritten signs that read, 'Out of gas, sorry,' and 'No gas today, try Monday.'"
At times during the Lebanese Civil War that lasted from 1975 to 1990, Israeli forces kept the hospital supplied with the oil needed to operate smoothly. It's the kind of cooperative humanitarian effort that doctors and university administrators are hoping will take place.
David Siegel, spokesman for the Israeli Embassy, said in a statement to ABC News, "We attach great importance to humanitarian aid and urge all aid to be directed through the organized humanitarian mechanisms already in place through international organizations and the U.N."
If the hospital's oil supply continues to dwindle, operations at Beirut's American University Hospital will most likely be shut down.
"I have never closed the hospital through all the years of Civil War," acting President Tomey told ABC News. "We have never witnessed a situation like this."
August 2, 2006 in Beirut Hospital Out of Gas | Permalink | User Comments (34)
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If this story is not newsworthy, then what is? It's mind boggling that ABC does not acknowledge the urgency of this situation.
Posted by: Anita | Aug 2, 2006 5:53:58 PM
Where oh where have the good reporters gone? I no longer have faith in the US media that is run by a few and that reports what they are told. We need good journalism in this country not a puppet show.
I guess the Mel Gibson story is more newsworthy that the suffering of the Lebanese people! You really have your priorities screwed up(excuse my language)!
Posted by: Madeleine | Aug 2, 2006 9:02:36 PM
Humanity !!!!!?
Posted by: Mazen Al-Hariri | Aug 3, 2006 1:27:40 AM
Dear Friend,
I'm a lebanese citizen from Beirut, and for the last 3 weeks I've been watching our country burning and our children dying. How long would it take the world to react to our cause ? shall we all die to hear from you ? Would you have a snap at our hospitals ? Please help us to stay alive. Thank you, and hope to hear from you soon.
Posted by: Zeina Gabriel | Aug 3, 2006 3:48:20 AM
What if the hospital situation in USA or Germany or France or..... is similar to the one in Lebanon.
Will someone care!!!
We totally appreacite the sympathy from all nations, but we need them to be more active to humanitarian issues than nice words and words and words and speeches and speeches and speeches ONLY.
Posted by: Fadi | Aug 3, 2006 6:58:40 AM
Please air your story on prime time. By airing the story, you will give the international community the opportunity to help you stop this insanity against the weak, the sick and the innocent. Surely in this day in age, fuel can be rendered to the hospital for its designated purpose. Killing people in their vulnerable moments is not self defense for Israel. It is a scar on the face of our collective humanity.
Posted by: Tina | Aug 3, 2006 7:41:48 AM
Through the Power of the Media, you can avert the disater and human suffering that will follow if oil supplies are not immediatley allowed through the blockade
Posted by: Diane | Aug 3, 2006 7:55:03 AM
Please do everything you can to get this story aired! How much suffering must they sustain before the media begins airing what the airstrikes are doing to the people!
Posted by: Kaye | Aug 3, 2006 8:57:02 AM
People are dying day after day and the whole international community is standing helpless watching our country being destroyed.Please do a move to help bring fuel so life can go on...I would like to ask Mr.Bush if his country is exposed to this war how will he feel??? Please Please Please help us!
Posted by: MAZEN | Aug 3, 2006 9:04:30 AM
Innocent lives are wasted by the dozen every day. The hospitals are the only thing keeping the wounded alive. You want more blood on your hands? Let some fuel through so the hospitals can have electricity to care for the wounded!!!
Posted by: Saoud Ghamrawi | Aug 3, 2006 9:43:35 AM
Given the fascination with "human interest" stories on the news these days I guess the Lebanese are not worthy of that level of interest!!!
What is going on at AUH hospital is only a small window into the huge humanitarian crisis that is occuring in Lebanon but I guess the suffering of millions of people is not news worthy!!!!
Posted by: NHK | Aug 3, 2006 9:44:54 AM
people in lebanon are humans, if it sliped some unhuman minds. it is a crime against humanity to deprive them the right to live and enjoy life.shame on this world
Posted by: anonymous | Aug 3, 2006 10:11:43 AM
Is ABC actually thinking of not airing this?!? Wow! let's wait until hundred thousands of people die, because 900 people dead in 3 weeks is apparently not an impressive number.
Posted by: omar | Aug 3, 2006 11:06:27 AM
ABC Tell the story—if not you're part of the problem
Posted by: Barbara | Aug 3, 2006 11:23:32 AM
Give compassion for the innocent!
Posted by: Suzanne | Aug 3, 2006 12:26:05 PM
What is worth airing if this, perhaps unprecedented inhumanity, is not?
Airing this might save human lives..might alleviate (at least to some small extent) human suffering.....
WHAT IS WORTH AIRING IF THIS IS NOT?
ABC, this is a piece of news that is urgent and life-saving. And it is at the core of media responsibility that such a story is told.
Posted by: Karim Abobakr | Aug 3, 2006 5:50:32 PM
It is stunning to me that a oil shortage would be permitted in this circumstance when the situation was never this dire in the civil war. Preventing a people from healing their wounded is certainly a violation of humanitarian law! From a practical point of view, even, if Hesbollah were to take fuel from such a well known hospital it would put a significant damper on it's support amongst the Lebanese people.
Posted by: Laila | Aug 3, 2006 5:59:31 PM
Simply: No blockade against civilians is acceptable, this is a shame.
Posted by: Cyrill | Aug 3, 2006 6:15:19 PM
ABC-Please pay a great deal of special attention to this story. We are not just talking about innnocent civilians that are being injured/killed by Israel, we are talking about those who are now being denied rights that every human deserves. If it is oil that hospitals need to run, give it to them. There are safe routes in/out of Lebanon, and the UN (aka the US) know where they are. The reason behind their neglect to act is quite blatantly obvious, even in light of the Israeli attack on the UN compound.
Posted by: NRL | Aug 3, 2006 7:03:22 PM
Please help the Lebanonese people and the hospital with the needed fuel to save lives.
Posted by: Gaylan Abood | Aug 3, 2006 11:35:31 PM
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