UNESCO chief urges all sides in Lebanon conflict to respect journalists after two killed

Deploring the deaths of two media workers covering the worsening conflict in Lebanon, the head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) today called on both Israel and Hezbollah to respect the civilian status of journalists and media organizations.

“In times of violent conflict it is essential for all parties to respect the important role the media play in enabling the public to make informed choices and working towards peace and democracy,” said UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura.

“Belligerents can not regard media staff and media outlets as military targets. And in times of extreme hardship for the region, with hundreds of civilian deaths, the courage of journalists attempting to keep us informed of events deserves recognition.”

Suleiman al-Chidiac, the head of a Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation transmission facility at Fatqa, northeast of Beirut, is reported to have been killed on 22 July during Israeli air attacks, UNESCO said in a press release.

Layal Nagib, a freelance photographer for the Lebanese magazine Al-Jaras and Agence France-Presse, is reported to have been killed on 23 July. She was in a taxi on her way to meet a convoy of villagers fleeing Israeli bombardments in south Lebanon when she was hit by shrapnel.

UNESCO is the only UN agency with a mandate to defend freedom of expression and press freedom.