The European Commission, the executive body of the European Union (EU), on Monday expressed regret over the worsening of access situation for humanitarian relief in Lebanon.

"The humanitarian situation in Lebanon is deteriorating and now more than ever it is essential that we continue to have access to the people that urgently need our help, in particular those displaced or stranded in the south," said EU commissioner for external relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner in a statement.

"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."

Following the targeting of transportation routes north of Beirut by the Israeli defense forces, the provision of humanitarian aid by land to the Lebanese population in need has become increasingly difficult, said the commission.

Access both to and from Lebanon as well as movement within Lebanon has been seriously affected by the recent attacks, it said. "The bombing of roads that have been previously cleared as safe for evacuation and humanitarian aid could have a major impact on the delivery or our aid.

We will need guarantees for the safety of our people on the ground if we are to successfully continue the provision of aid," said Louis Michel, EU commissioner for development and humanitarian aid, in the same statement.