BEIRUT -- Wow, this seems like old times for the blog, eh? Here I am trying to get a driver to take me south to Tyre and I'm thanking you all for your generosity in donations. I'm really, really grateful. This will help a lot, considering the Lebanese -- who are a merchant people -- have recognized the war as a gouging opportunity.
The Israelis have come in, but it's unclear just how far in they are. Most reports say only a kilometer or two inside the border, but I'm trying to get more information via phone, etc. Frustrating to be up here in Beirut while this is happening. I hear they're bombing Sidon now, but again it's unclear how badly.
Yesterday I dashed into Sidon with some colleagues and we found some refugees who had just arrived from the south a couple of hours previously. I will be posting that shortly. And it won't be appearing in any newspapers. Think of it as a value-add for your generosity.
OK. Going to try to find a drive crazy enough to drive south who won't charge us $600-700. I hear they're charging $400 a day down in Tyre. Man.
This bloke is in Tyre now.
dutchmarbel
He may be in Tyre now but unfortunately he writes in a language that’s greek (sorry, I mean dutch) to me.
Note: It would be of benefit to me and other people if someone would translate what he is writing about.
I actually ment the message for Chris but was to sleepy to mail ;) But I’ll translate his post from July 23d:
His last post says “(there should be 4 photo’s with this post but I don’t manage to upload them…. excuses… I’ll try again later)
Airattack on civilians close to an hospital, just south of Tyre. But what in heavensname do a tank and an armytruck of the Lebanese Army next to that same hospital?
Ok, imagine. A road with palmtrees. At the hight of the hospital Israeli airplanes shoot a rocket at a car with civilians. People who want to travel from the south to the realatively save north. I saw at least three victims, two kids and a boy of about 23 years. I arrived two minutes after the rocket attack. Dramatic of course. Screaming, panic, running soldiers, civilians. Everybody (incl. me) is afraid the airoplanes will come back and drop another bomb at the same place.
But ok. Afterwards you walk through the hospital. Wounded and screaming around you. You leave through the ER exit and what do you see: on the parking lot of the hospital, 15 m. away, are an armytruck and a tank. Bizar. Almost criminal! The Lebanese who work in the hospital (doctors, nurses, were very angry that the tank and truck were on their parking lot. What do you mean asking for bombs in the neighbourhood of your hospital? The GM of the hospital has asked the Lebanise army to remove them, but they army just said: No. Even the soldiers of the Lebanese army who tried to fight the fire in the burning car said that it was a very bad idea to leave the tank parked next to the hospital. Ok, photo’s actually say it all. First two (made through the front window of my car) were made while I drove the the place that was just attacked, so they are not straight. I’m allready glad you can see anything because we (we were with three journalists and an interpreter) were pretty scared because we still heard Israeli aeroplanes above us. So lots of stress today.
Fortunately the hotel were we are (in the relatively quiet centre of town) has a beach, directly onto the sea… so I have taken a swim in spite of the rotten events. But you look up all the time because the planes just keep flying over whilst you hear bombs explode in the near distance. Tomorrow a few pics of my colleques and me in the water…
Dutchmarbel
Thanks for translation. Newspapers from all sides are doing a lot of spin, same with forums. It is really hard to get some realiable informations from the people on the ground. Too much confusion and emotions are running high.
Yeah, that’s why I try to read bloggers, blogging from the area, to get a better impression. It also just is a complicated matter with lots of culprits and lots of hidden tactics & politics.
I’d just not link to a Dutch blog normally, it was the coincidence of the bloke being in the place Christopher wants to visit that made me post. I’m more a lurker than a poster :)
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