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Relief and assessments in Lebanon
Source: ACT International
MECC's Inter-Church Network for Development and Relief (ICNDR) is heading up the relief operation, which in this critical phase has included distributing food and non-food items to the most vulnerable families seeking shelter in schools and on church property in Beirut.
In an update, the general secretary of MECC, Guirgis Saleh said, "Safe passage for aid convoys remains a major problem. Similarly, fuel availability, rising prices and clean water in south Lebanon, are of growing concern to each and every one."
ACT last week (July 27) launched a $4.6 US appeal in response to the Lebanon humanitarian crisis to support its two members, MECC and Norwegian Church Aid (NCA), in implementing emergency work on behalf of the alliance of ACT members around the world.
Mr. Saleh, who has denounced the conflict in a media statement, and has called for a cease-fire, reports that the ICNDR relief staff were able to distribute 390 food parcels and hygiene items yesterday to families who have fled the conflict from the south and southern Beirut.
On Saturday, July 29, the NCA team also visited two centres (schools) for the internally displaced in Beirut.
NCA's Tor Valla, who is part of an assessment team to Saida and villages south to the town today, said in an update over the telephone that they had started trucking water to some of the centres for some 1,700 displaced people in Beirut and have also started work on the construction of shower facilities.
Valla will travel to the southern town of Tyre if security allows, along with MECC staff who are part of the assessment team.
A three-member ACT Coordination Assessment Team (CAT) arrived in Lebanon today to support the work of MECC.
For further information, please contact: ACT Communications Officer Callie Long (mobile/cell phone +41 79 358 3171) or ACT web site address: www.act-intl.org .
DanChurchAid is a member of ACT International - a global alliance of churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergencies.
