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Update: Lebanon Crisis Appeal

September 8, 2006

The 34-day between Israel and Hezbollah has ended and a three-week UN-led cessation of hostilities continues while nearly 1 million persons are returning to their homes in Lebanon. However, according to UN reports, people are finding their villages or neighborhoods destroyed. According to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) roughly 15,000 houses were completely destroyed during the war while another 15,000 were partially damaged.

This is one of a series of serious humanitarian problems facing those returning to areas destroyed or damaged by war; another, according to the UN, is unexploded ordnance (UXOs), often inside homes. To date, 435 cluster bomb sites have been identified, the IRIN humanitarian news agency reports.

Other pressing problems include water and electricity shortages.

RESPONSE: Church World Service continues its support of its two partners in the region, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) as outlined in the original appeal, issued July 27. Material aid support has also been provided to the humanitarian agency Mercy Corps which has extensive response efforts under way in Lebanon.

As part of efforts, CWS has sent the following shipments to the region:

800 cartons of donated canned turkey to the MECC, valued at $33,600.

40 cartons of IMA medicine boxes to MECC, with a value of $166,584. The IMA boxes contain 16 essential medicines and medical supplies in sufficient quantities to respond to the common illnesses of approximately 1,000 adults and children for up to two-to-three months when placed in a clinic.

1,770 CWS blankets; 10,440 CWS Health Kits; and seven pallets of 5-gallon jugs of water to the IOCC. This shipment has a total value of $146,806.

10,020 CWS School Kits and 8,595 CWS Health Kits, with a total value of $241,995 to Mercy Corps.

Contributions to support these efforts may be sent to your denomination or directly to:

Church World Service, Lebanon Crisis(Account #6820), P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN 46515

Contributions may also be made by credit card online, or by calling: (800) 297-1516, ext. 222.

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

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