Updated Monday 31 July 2006

As violence grows worse southern Lebanon, WFP is forced to cancel an aid convoy after the Israeli Defence Forces decline to give their agreement to the delivery going ahead.

DISAPPOINTED AND FRUSTRATED

Amid intensified bombardment of roads and villages in southern Lebanon, WFP has been forced to cancel a planned aid convoy to the southern Lebanese town of Marjayoun, after the Israeli military (the Israeli Defence Forces or IDF) declined to give their agreement to the shipment going ahead.

WFP needs agreement from all sides involved in the Lebanon conflict to go ahead with a convoy. This is the first time that WFP has not been given this agreement – three previous convoys were allowed to pass through.