India to contribute Rs 10 crore to Lebanon

New Delhi, July 27: India will extend an aid of Rs 10 crore to humanitarian and relief efforts to rebuild the war-ravaged Lebanon, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced today.

This was in response to an appeal issued by the Government of Lebanon, he told the Lok Sabha in a suo-motu statement on the situation in Lebanon and the steps taken to evacuate stranded Indian nationals.

Expressing concern over the ''destruction of a country which has been painfully rebuilt after two decades of civil war,'' Dr Singh said this could hardly be countenanced by any civilised state.

He demanded immediate ceasefire to end the destruction in Lebanon and provide humanitarian assistance.

''All sides must immediately halt the violence and give diplomacy a chance,'' Dr Singh said while pointing out that ''diplomacy to succeed should have a long-term solution that involves and addresses the legitimate concerns of all parties in the region, leading to a comprehensive and negotiated solution.'' Dr Singh said India was seriously concerned about the escalation of conflict between Israel and the Hezbollah extending across the Lebanon-Israel border. ''West Asia is our extended neighbourhood and tensions in that region affect our security and our vital interests.'' He said these developments had inflamed an already tense and delicate situation in the region.

On the allegation of members during the zero hour yesterday that India was not prompt in its response to the West Asia crisis fearing ire from the United States, Dr Singh said New Delhi had condemned the abduction of two Israeli soldiers by the Hezbollah cadres and called for their immediate release.

Simultaneously, India had condemned in the strongest possible terms the excessive and disproportionate military retaliation by Israel.

''We had particularly expressed concern that the actions of the Israeli defence forces had resulted in the killing and suffering of innocent civilians, including women and children, that is likely to exacerbate an already tense situation. We also condemn the attack that led to the death of four UN observers in Lebanon.''

UNI

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