Lebanon humanitarian crisis

The indiscriminate targeting of the civilian population and infrastructure, disregarding all lines, is preventing relief workers reaching the affected villages and towns. The attacks have destroyed villages and towns in South Lebanon as well as the southern suburbs of Beirut. Most of the communication networks are disrupted delaying the efforts to save the wounded and remove the dead from under the collapsed buildings. It is estimated that the attacks have caused the forced displacement of 600,000 persons, the death of 250 and injuring 750. Furthermore, all Lebanese ports, the Beirut International Airport, roads and bridges on the coast and in the mountains have been partially destroyed.

The regions of Metn, Kesrouan and Shouf have been receiving the displaced who are fleeing under the continuous attacks. They are now awaiting relief aid (food, mattresses, bedding and medicines).

The MECC is responding to the situation through their program the Inter- church Network for Development and Relief in Lebanon (ICNDR). They have organized a Emergency Committee comprising: MECC General Secretary, MECC Director of International Ecumenical Relations, ICNDR director, ICNDR Relief coordinator, the WCC representative in Lebanon, the MECC Finance Assistant and Communicator. This committee will support and supervise ICNDR relief activities.

MECC/ICNDR is working through their office in Beirut and its offices in southern and northern. They are responding through their traditional partners: churches and grassroots organizations. Furthermore, MECC/ICNDR is participating in the national coordination efforts lead by the Lebanese High Relief Committee and in the NGO coordination in Saida and Beirut.

MECC/ICNDR reports that they have started to respond to the crisis with their own funds. The ACT CO has released U$55,000 from its Rapid Response Fund, to support initial activities. MECC/ICNDR is working in the preparation of a preliminary appeal, which is expected to be ready by Monday July 24. According to their initial assessment the most urgent needs identified are: Volunteers to manage the centers for the displaced, mattresses and bedding, water, cleaning supplies, kitchen supplies, first aid kits, medicine for chronic diseases, food rations, milk for infants.

The ACT CO is in the process of organizing a Coordination Assessment Team, CATs, that will combine skills on Progamme, Finance and Communication. We expect that the team will be ready to be deployed to support MECC/ICNDR efforts, as soon as the conditions in the country allow. In the meantime, it has been agreed that MECC/ICNDR will hire an accounting firm to support them in the financial management of the programme.

Furthermore, the ACT CO is convening a meeting in Geneva on August 10, 2006 to coordinate the ACT response in Lebanon. ACT implementing members working in Lebanon and ACT funding members are invited.

ACT member, DANCHURCHAID has informed the ACT CO, that they intend to apply for ECHO funds, to support the ACT response in Lebanon.