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Battered Lebanon counts the cost

Brian Whitaker

Fifty-five bridges destroyed; factories, hospitals and airports bombed

Beirut: The catastrophic scale of destruction inflicted on Lebanon's infrastructure and economy by the Israeli bombardment was becoming apparent on Thursday as Government officials released details to the London-based Guardian newspaper of the damage so far. With countless homes wrecked, 55 bridges destroyed and numerous roads made impassable, factories, hospitals and airports hit and fuel storage facilities destroyed, estimates of the reconstruction cost already run into billions of dollars.

``We know the cost is in billions,'' a Government spokeswoman said. Israeli forces have also attacked three of the country's main seaports — Beirut, Tripoli and Jamil Gemayel — as well as putting Beirut's lighthouse out of action and hitting an antenna in Tripoli that was vital for maritime operations.

The energy sector has been hit too, with the destruction of 17 fuel stores, four gas stores and the bombing of 12 petrol stations. An electricity generator in Sibline has also been damaged.

Various factories and warehouses have been destroyed or put out of action. Some hotels have temporarily closed, although others in Beirut have been full over the past few days with Lebanese fleeing the Israeli onslaught and foreigners awaiting evacuation.

Many shops and other small businesses have also closed, either through lack of customers or because staff can no longer travel to work. In the meantime, the Lebanese Government has launched a diplomatic initiative aimed at bringing in fresh supplies through the Israeli-imposed blockade.

There have been contacts with the U.S., Britain and France, and Lebanon is seeking international protection for transporting essential goods.

The mass exodus from Lebanon has led many people to empty their bank accounts, raising fears of a financial crisis.

- Guardian Newspapers Limited 2006

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