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Despondent American University President Sees "No Relief in Sight"
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ShareAugust 10, 2006 4:15 PM
The American University Hospital in Beirut is still without its fuel shipment although oil tankers wait just outside Lebanese waters. Today, the owners explained why.
The owners of the oil tanker Afrodite, one of the handful of ships destined for Beirut, tell ABC News they have received no written guarantee of safe passage from the Israeli Defense Forces and no offer of an escort from the U.S. Navy. This contradicts earlier rumors by university administrators that such offers had been made.
As profiled by the ABCNews.com Blotter over the last week, damage to Lebanon's power grid and Israel's marine blockade have caused power shortages around the country. In Beirut, the country's energy supplier, Electricite du Liban, has curbed its output for lack of fuel. Israel instituted the blockade in an effort to weaken Hezbollah, whose militants abducted two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border raid last month.
The Afrodite is owned by Tsakos Energy Navigation, a Greek company listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Paul Durham, Tsakos' Chief Financial Officer, spoke with ABC News earlier today.
"We have a cargo on board which we desperately want to deliver...that the people of Lebanon desperately need," Durham said.
But he also notes that "it's a hot war zone" and that for multiple reasons -- among them the safety of the 28 crew members onboard -- the ships are not willing to pass through the blockade until there is "an unequivocal ceasefire."
"We know nothing about a U.S. Navy offer to escort us. Even that, an escort while bombs are falling down, makes no sense. What we are doing is waiting and praying that there is peace."
The crew's safety is not Durham's only fear. The possibility of an oil spill caused by damage to the ship is not something Durham or Tsakos Energy Navigation is ready to risk.
"We do not want to contribute to an environmental disaster...The vessel could be hit [by stray shelling] and cause a leak of our cargo, which is fuel oil...quite nasty stuff. It's even worse than crude oil as far as pollutant is concerned."
ABC News asked Durham about the concern that a fuel delivery might end up in the hands of Hezbollah militants, thereby perpetuating their ability to wage war.
"This stuff is sticky fuel oil. It's used to power electricity stations and ships...their rockets would need high grade aviation fuel, I would imagine. I'm pretty sure this would not power a rocket."
The U.S. State Department has not provided comment despite repeated requests. The Israeli Embassy has not provided comment since last Wednesday, when spokesman David Siegel said, "We...urge all aid to be directed through the organized humanitarian mechanisms already in place through international organizations and the U.N."
American University of Beirut President John Waterbury just returned to Beirut yesterday. He spoke with ABC News after driving from Amman, Jordan through Lebanon's northern border with Syria. He expressed concern that fuel is running out. "The country has in the neighborhood of ten days' supply left," says Waterbury. "When that fuel runs out, we shut down."
"It's a very scary thought that it really never happened during the civil war, we always found a way to keep going."
Waterbury says the University, like the rest of the country, has begun rationing what fuel is left. "You make some projections on current consumption, but the next day's consumption goes down," says Waterbury. "So ten days may be the estimate tomorrow. It's not a lot. There's no significant relief in sight."
But Waterbury says, morale at the hospital remains high as both employees and patients continue to hope for a solution. "If this hospital closes, some part of Lebanon's soul is going to close," he says. "When all else fails, AUB's hospital always finds a way."
As for his personal thoughts on the situation at large, Tsakos CFO Paul Durham shares this sentiment from his view of the conflict in Athens, Greece, "Greeks have good relationships with the Lebanese and with the Israelis. To see two friends fighting like that and so much death is tragic."
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August 10, 2006 in Beirut Hospital Out of Gas | Permalink | User Comments (13)
We Americans are sowing the seeds of hatred wherever we go - we must accept the fact that we will be reaping them in the days and years ahead, and not be at all surprised. We must not allow this situation to deteriorate any further - and, we MUST change our administration! Can we Americans afford these warmongers any longer? We are all going to die horrific deaths if WE DON'T WAKE UP!!!!
Where is the press? Why are YOU not more aggressive in your criticism of what we are doing? Why are you not telling Americans in no uncertain terms that WE are supplying the BOMBS that are killing these people?? No wonder we are so HATED in the world!!!! No wonder . . . . . . . . .
Posted by: Donna | Aug 10, 2006 4:43:39 PM
Is the world going to sit and watch or can we make ourselves heard through ABC news to prevent this silent crime from happening?
Posted by: Raya Salman | Aug 10, 2006 6:13:33 PM
Wonderful to hear that Tsokas Energy Navigation is being responsible - to their employees and environment. Something US companies could learn from, especially oil/gas spills.
Posted by: Carol | Aug 11, 2006 9:30:28 AM
Reporting this story is not debatable. It is only humane.
Good work ABC
Posted by: Cori | Aug 11, 2006 10:04:10 AM
This is not the USA's fault. This is not Israel's fault.
It is Hezbollah's fault.
They started this conflict and they can just as easily end it. But they won't, so it's just too bad if the hospital has to close.
That's what happens when you get in to bed with terorists....
Posted by: Jim Wilson | Aug 11, 2006 3:23:49 PM
Good! Americans are fools to be cavorting with Islamic terrorists in the first place.
Let the fools pay their own fare home.
Posted by: Don R. | Aug 11, 2006 5:27:48 PM
Pointing fingers at whose fault this war happened is not going to help the hospital. When it comes to humanity, aid should be given. Hospitals are the last place where help should be begged for!
Posted by: Natalie | Aug 13, 2006 7:07:13 AM
I agree with Jim. This is Hezbollah's fault. Take it one step further and you will know it is Lebanon's fault. Did they not, after all, allow terrorists to set up shop on their native soil? Did the Lebanese not give the terrorists a seat at the governmental table? Has Lebanon not welcomed terrorist organizations into their midst since before our marine barricks were bombed?
Now that the Lebanese are finally getting a taste of what they have dished up, they whine to the world about their children. My heart bleeds for the children - all of them: Lebanese, Jews, Christians . . . .
Each of our marines who was killed was someone's child, someone's father, brother, sister, mother. The person who says they were not someone's children have obviously never had children. As old as they grow, they are always someone's child.
Shame on Hezbollah, the cowardly, sniveling creatures who call themselves men but who hide behind the women and children of Lebanon. And shame on Lebanon for allowing them a place to thrive!
Posted by: WaterBird | Aug 13, 2006 8:16:13 PM
Natalie - I once was naive as you are now. If only Hezbollah would return the Israeli soldiers and disarm, all of this would be over. Let's face it - there is no need for armed forces such as Hezbollah to exist. Lebanon has it's own military. They should be the ones guarding the borders of the country.
Open your eyes and see the evil for what and where it is. If you are old enough to post to a blogsite, you are old enough to see reason. If the Hospital has to suffer, it is only Hezbollah's fault. And pointing fingers IS USEFUL in determining the difference between good and evil.
Posted by: WaterBird | Aug 13, 2006 8:22:09 PM
Regardless of whether Lebanon and Hezbollah are evil, should we not love our enemies? Pray for those who persecute us? Give help to widows and orphans regardless of their affiliation? Compassion has no favoritism.
Posted by: Sunita | Aug 14, 2006 11:33:33 AM
Sunita-
Yes, "love thine enemies"; but never drop your guard nor overlook the dagger they wield at you whilst you sleep. Or more assertively, use the pistol you keep under your pillow to kill your brother only the moment before he disembowels you while you sleep.
Jesus was loving and showed the world another way to see things. But he was neither a fool nor acted foolishly. Same with Mohammed, Buddah, ...
Posted by: StephB87 | Aug 14, 2006 8:05:17 PM
i just want to make something clear the only reason why hizbollah was formed was because the lebanon was being invaded by ISRAEL...this is the sixth time to let you all know. The government was too weak to prtoect lebanon from this happening to HIZBOLLAH formed with the support of iran and syria...wat do u guys think..maybe read the histroy b4 thinking your too smart and full of knoledge of what has happend!!
p.s HIZBOLLAH AND ISRAEL DID NOT WIN LEBANON DID!!!!!
Posted by: sandyy | Aug 18, 2006 4:45:49 AM
It's very interesting to read this 2 years after :)
Posted by: Note | May 15, 2008 6:38:15 PM
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