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Lebanon is bearing the brunt of the fighting

© Hege Opseth, NCA-ACT International

Local ACT member Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) through its Inter-Church Network for Development and Relief (ICNDR) are packing 500 emergency relief parcels for distribution in Saida and Jezzine in the south of the country. Beirut, August 9, 2006

Source: ACT International

"It was another black day and bloody night for Lebanon, filled with the smoke of fires caused by Israeli attacks from land, sea and air," Guirgis Saleh, MECC’s general secretary said in an update to the global alliance Action by Churches Together (ACT) International Wednesday August 9.

The destruction caused by the offensive is massive. In the area of Chiah in the southern suburbs of Beirut, MECC reports that ten people were killed, 30 injured and two buildings completely destroyed. Two villages in the south have also issued distress calls for assistance: for food, water and medicine. MECC says that Rmeish and Debel are being threatened with disaster if relief does not reach them.

Also of concern is the fact that the Qasmieh Bridge and the makeshift bridge between Saida and Tyre in the south were destroyed a few days ago, leading to the isolation of the city of Tyre.

Meanwhile, the ACT International, through its members in the country, continues to respond to the crisis in Lebanon.

MECC through its Inter-Church Network for Development and Relief (ICNDR) are in the process of distributing 500 food and non-food parcels in Saida and Jezzine in the south of the country.

Water and sanitation support

MECC’s ICNDR and Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) continues to assist with water and sanitation support in centres the displaced. The water and sanitation teams have so far completed the installation of showers at two schools in Ashrafieh, the Laure Moghayzel School and the Public Secondary School, with additional support to the Laure Moghayzel School after problems were experienced with the water systems.

MECC’s ICNDR and NCA have also completed three assessments of the Joint Christian Committee School (JCCS), the Mar Severius Schools in the Museitbe area of Beirut, and the National Evangelical Church Secondary School in Ras Beirut.

JCCS needs more water, as well as showers and support with basic hygiene items. People at the Mar Severius School also need water and showers, as well as basic hygiene items. And again at the National Evangelical Church Secondary School, water and showers are in short supply.

Distribution of food and hygiene parcels

ACT member International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) has been distributing food and hygiene parcels in centres set up to house people displaced by the conflict, as well as in schools. Distributions have focused on the regions of Chouf (Semkanya), Metn (Bhersaf, Beitmery, Bikfaya, Mansourieh, Jal el dib and Zalka) and Bhamdoun-Aley. So far, 695 families have received support from IOCC, with the rest of the parcels to be distributed by week’s end to meet the goal of assisting 892 families.

Mr Saleh says that MECC continues to receive other requests from Saida and Jezzine for food and non-food relief, including water. One of these requests has come from the Union for the Disabled in Saida, which needs special medical assistance for people with disabilities.

Meanwhile, the coordinator of MECC’s Service to Refugees, Displaced and Migrants (SRDM) Coordinator, Mona Abu Jamra, reports that MECC’s relief work in cooperation with UNHCR and Caritas is ongoing.

DanChurchAid is a member of ACT International - a global alliance of churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergencies.