UN chief calls for end to Middle East hostilities

The United Nations’ top humanitarian official today inspected the destruction caused by Israeli air raids on southern Beirut and called for an end to violence as he began a relief mission to war-ravaged Lebanon.

Jan Egeland arrived earlier in the day and went straight to the suburbs of southern Beirut, where Hezbollah had its headquarters.

Making his way around the piles of debris from the incessant bombardment of the area, he stressed the need for a halt to the hostilities.

“If it continues like this, there will be more and more civilian casualties,” he told reporters.