AID WORKERS HAVE STARTED SUPPLY RUNS INTO SOUTHERN LEBANON BUT SOME VILLAGES REMAIN CUT OFF, THE RED CROSS SAID ON TUESDAY, AND A U.N. AGENCY WARNED A FOOD CRISIS WAS LOOMING IN AREAS WORST HIT BY ISRAELI BOMBARDMENT, REUTERS REPORTED. THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS (ICRC) SAID IT HAD SET UP TWO SOUTHERN BASES, IN THE PORT OF TYRE AND THE TOWN OF MARJAYOUN, AND WAS SENDING MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TO BORDER VILLAGES NEEDING URGENT HELP AFTER TWO WEEKS OF WAR. "THINGS HAVE NOT STABILISED YET. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE STUCK IN THE SOUTH," ANDREAS WIGGER, ICRC HEAD OF DELEGATION IN LEBANON, SAID. WHILE THE UNITED NATIONS SAYS IT IS WAITING FOR ISRAELI GUARANTEES OF SAFE PASSAGE BEFORE DISTRIBUTING AID TO THE SOUTH, THE RED CROSS STARTED OPERATIONS FOUR DAYS AGO. IT IS CONCENTRATING ON 200 VILLAGES IN THE HILLS OF SOUTHERN LEBANON, WHERE HEAVY BOMBARDMENT HAS FORCED TENS OF THOUSANDS TO FLEE AND LEFT OTHERS STRANDED. MANY REMAIN BEYOND ITS REACH. "TODAY WE COULD NOT GO TO RMAISH, THEY ARE IN DIRE NEED," HE SAID, REFERRING TO A VILLAGE BARELY A MILE (2 KM) FROM THE BORDER WITH ISRAEL AND CLOSE TO BINT JBEIL, WHERE ISRAELI AND HIZBOLLAH FORCES HAVE FOUGHT FIERCE BATTLES.
