The European Union (EU) on Friday expressed concern at Israeli air strikes on transportation routes north of Beirut and called on both warring parties to ensure corridors for humanitarian aid remain open.

European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid Louis Michel said in a statement that the bombing of roads that have been previously cleared as safe for evacuation and humanitarian aid could have a major impact on the delivery of EU aid.

He said the EU needs guarantees for the safety of its people on the ground and urged relevant parties to respect international humanitarian laws.

Access both to and from Lebanon as well as movement within Lebanon has been seriously affected by Israel's assault on Lebanon Friday, including attacks on four bridges on the main north-south coastal highway linking Beirut to Syria. The strikes severed the only remaining major road link between Lebanon and Syria.

European Commissioner for External Relations and Neighborhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner also voiced concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Lebanon.

"Harming those who have done no harm does not help anybody. Both parties have a responsibility to ensure that corridors for the safe provision of aid to the needed Lebanese are open and respected," she said Friday.

The EU said the Israeli attacks made it more difficult to provide humanitarian aid by land to the Lebanese population in need, especially those displaced in the south.

(Xinhua News Agency August 5, 2006)