A/HRC/3/2 page 46 immediate and unlimited access to humanitarian assistance.149 Despite the announcement made by a United States of America State Department spokesperson on 30 July 2006 that Israel had agreed to a 48-hour suspension of aerial bombardments,150 Israel continued with its military operations in the South, thus impeding humanitarian agencies’ access to locations south of the Litani River.151 182. The difficulties encountered by humanitarian relief organizations applied equally in relation to medical care. All medical staff met by the Commission underlined this aspect. Indeed, many injured persons who could have been brought to hospital or had access to medical care could not do so due to IDF imposed movement limitations. As a result, many patients who suffered from light injuries had their condition deteriorate as time passed.152 On various occasions the lack of timely medical assistance resulted in the death of patients. These problems of access to medical care are confirmed in the data provided by the Jabal Amal hospital in Tyre. Indeed, in the two days after the cease fire it received 80 patients. All of them were injured persons who could not be reached during the conflict. 183. In Qana, for example, the Commission was informed that several persons died because of lack of medicines. Among the victims, the brother of the town’s mayor died due to the lack of insulin to treat his diabetes. In Chihine, the Commission was informed that on 8 August, one woman was killed and another injured by IDF when they raided their home. IDF left the wounded woman in the house, unable to get medical attention due to the intense fighting. She could only be treated after the entry into force of the ceasefire, when LRC was finally allowed to enter the town.153 184. ICRC reported on several occasions the difficulties faced by LRC and ICRC to reach people in need of assistance. In a press briefing on 19 July 2006, Mr. Pierre Krähenbühl, ICRC Director of Operations, stated that the principal medical problem within Lebanon was finding ways to evacuate patients to hospitals.154 The ICRC President, Mr. Jakob Kellenberger, also raised this issue when visiting Lebanon and Israel in August 2006.155 Christopher Stokes, head of mission for Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in Lebanon, said on 1 August 2006 that the “concept of humanitarian corridors has been used as a “kind of alibi” because in effect there is no real access for humanitarian organizations in the south”.156 185. The Commission was also informed that ships loaded with humanitarian assistance that had left the port of Larnaca, Cyprus, were not able to enter Lebanese ports until late in the conflict both because of the blockade157 as well as because of delays in obtaining the required authorization from the Israeli authorities. 186. Under international humanitarian law, “humanitarian relief personnel must be respected and protected”.158 Furthermore, “the parties to the conflict must allow and facilitate rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief for civilians in need, which is impartial in character and conducted without any adverse distinction, subject to their right of control”.159 These rules apply whether the armed conflict is international or non-international. In addition, the Security Council, as it did for this armed conflict, had called on many occasions on all parties to an armed conflict to respect and ensure respect for the security and safety of humanitarian relief personnel. In its resolution 1296 (2000) on protection of civilians in armed conflicts, the Security Council called upon all parties, including non-State actors, “to ensure the safety, security and freedom of movement” of humanitarian relief personnel. The issue of denial or