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Director of MECC's relief arm in Lebanon discusses response following conflict

December 1, 2006

By Toya Richards Hill, ACT International

Beirut, Lebanon -- Even before the bombing stopped and the killing ended, local and international non-governmental organizations were rallying to assist Lebanon's battered people.

Counted among them was long-time Church World Service partner the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), through its humanitarian relief arm, the Inter-Church Network for Development and Relief in Lebanon (ICNDR). Church World Service and MECC/ICNDR are members of the global alliance Action by Churches Together (ACT) International.

Headed by director Suad Hajj Nassif, ICNDR has responded countrywide to the summer conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, spreading its work out from Beirut, Mount Lebanon, North Lebanon, Beqaa, and South Lebanon. ICNDR's efforts are being supported by other ACT members around the world through an ACT appeal.

Recently, Nassif shared her perceptions on the crisis, gave insights into what still needs to be done, and touched on how people can help.

Q. What did ICNDR discover when it went into villages following the United Nations-brokered ceasefire?

A. What we discovered was a lot of destruction - a lot of bridges, small factories (and) water pipes destroyed; a lot of hatred, massacres, widows, women in despair. We also discovered a lot of cluster bombs.

But what's more important is that what we really felt and discovered is a sign of hope, that people were already back into their villages. So we had to follow them to see what we could do to help them.

Q. In this post-crisis phase now, what specific areas of need will be addressed and where?

A. The focus will be specifically in the South. We will try also to help some of the villages that were destroyed or bombarded in the Beqaa. As for the specific areas of need, the focus will be on non-food items such as heaters and blankets now, you know, with the winter season coming. And (we will) try to address direct assistance to farmers that have lost orchards, fields of olive trees, their beehives, and their small equipment.

The emphasis today will also be on the psychosocial element that is very much needed, especially among children and women. We will try to do all that in a developmental approach that will help us to move from this post-crisis phase into rehabilitation, and hopefully development.

Q. Ultimately, why should the broader world be concerned about this emergency, and what is the best way people can respond?

A. We consider Lebanon to be a key country in the Middle East. It's a key part of the Middle East in general and peace in the Middle East. I think what we can do is to ask the broader world to be concerned, to try to understand the complexities of the region and of our country, Lebanon. The best way people can help is to tell our story, the way it is. And we invite people to respond with any resources they have available, be it human or financial.

(ends)

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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