UN seeks security guarantees to boost Lebanon aid

JERUSALEM, July 31 (Reuters) The United Nations will need further security guarantees from all sides before sharply boosting relief efforts in southern Lebanon, saying a 48-hour partial suspension of Israeli air strikes did not go far enough.

''A suspension of aerial activity in southern Lebanon, if it were to be implemented, would fall short of this urgent requirement, though it would at least be a start,'' a UN official said today.

The official said the United Nations was seeking security guarantees from all sides for UN and other aid workers.

''In these circumstances, the United Nations is continuing its relief efforts, but the conditions do not yet exist for a major increase in humanitarian operations,'' the official said.

Two United Nations aid convoys left Lebanon's capital Beirut today for the southern port of Tyre and also Qana, the village where Israeli bombs killed at least 54 civilians yesterday.

International aid agencies were hoping to take advantage of a 48-hour Israeli suspension of air strikes on southern Lebanon to deliver much needed aid and help get people out of the area, devastated by daily bombardments since July 12.

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