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CWS Situation Report: Middle East Crisis

July 19, 2006

Two areas of the Middle East are generating grave concern--Lebanon and the West Bank/Gaza--and are locales of CWS-supported work.

In Lebanon, Israel has enforced a blockade by air, sea, and land and has conducted bombing attacks in response to the capture of two Israeli soldiers on the Lebanon-Israel border by militia of Hezbullah, a Lebanese Islamic political party. The incident has been escalated by both Israel and Hezbullah. Hezbullah has launched rockets into Israel, with damage to property and loss of life as far south as Haifa, Israel's third largest city. The Israeli strikes are reportedly escalating in strength and frequency as civilian dwellings have been struck and have collapsed in numerous areas including Beirut and surrounding suburbs and communities. Civilian casualties have reached close to 300 dead and 450 wounded. Over 400,000 internally displaced have taken refuge in public and private schools in different regions of Lebanon.

In a statement today, Guirgis I. Saleh, general secretary of the Middle East Council of Churches, said Lebanon was experiencing a "catastrophic humanitarian crisis," especially in regard to food and medicine. "Hence, all efforts should be deployed by the international community, churches and ecumenical councils and organizations worldwide to bring their support to ensure the basic requirements of the Lebanese population, and to work on a cease fire."

The prime minister of Lebanon, Fuad Siniora, declared Lebanon to be a disaster area. The national ministry of health has prepared an immediate emergency plan and has taken responsibility of hospitals and evacuation of injured Lebanese. This as evacuations of foreigners in Lebanon continues.

Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in the Israeli-occupied territories of the West Bank/Gaza continues to worsen, according to the United Nations. In a report released Wednesday, the UN said the situation in Gaza in particular had become dire in recent months, with poverty rates in the area now standing at 75 percent.

RESPONSE: Church World Service will be supporting efforts by the MECC, which has submitted a Rapid Response Funds request to Action by Churches Together (ACT) International. As well, we are contacting other colleague agencies, such as International Orthodox Christian Charities, who work in the region to ascertain their needs. A full appeal is expected for MECC efforts, in conjunction with the Inter Church Network for Development and Relief in Lebanon, which are expected to focus on assistance to 1,500 families (12,000 persons), including internally displaced families primarily located in Saida, Mount Lebanon, Tripoli, Beirut and Beqaa; and families stranded and isolated in their villages and towns located in southern Lebanon and southern suburbs of Beirut. (The numbers of internally displaced are expected to increase if Israeli attacks continue.)

Based on information from field staff, needs of the displaced include:

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.

Withregard to the Occupied Territories, CWS has issued an appeal (#6819, dated March 20, for $300,000) for the work of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF)-Augusta Victoria Hospital (AVH) in Jerusalem, which provides emergency medical assistance to Palestinian civilians. This appeal is likely to be updated soon to include wider support for ACT members doing work in the region; that will reflect the changing situation and activities of implementing members due to the escalating violence.

Finally, statements and open letters of concern about the Middle East situation have been issued by CWS (Read the complete statement here) and the National Council of Churches, as well as a CWS-member denominations, including the United Methodist Church, the Presbyterian Church (USA), the United Church of Christ/Disciples of Christ, Reformed Church in America and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Also issuing statements have been the Middle East Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches.

Media Contact:
Lesley Crosson, CWS/New York, 212-870-2676;
Jan Dragin, 781-925-1526;

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