July 31, 2006

NEW YORK – Going into a third week of violent attacks between Israel and Hezbullah in Lebanon, international humanitarian agency Church World Service (CWS) is voicing increasing concern over the growing humanitarian crisis in Lebanon. The agency announced today that it is responding in the region and has issued an initial $1 million fundraising appeal.

CWS is also alarmed at the lack of safe passage needed to deliver humanitarian aid to affected populations. "The UN has been asking for opening of humanitarian corridors," says Church World Service Emergency Response Program Director Donna Derr, "but so far those corridors haven't materialized and transport routes and communication in the damaged Lebanese regions are severely hindered."

Derr says "It's an increasingly critical situation, with bridges destroyed, so many roads impassable, airports and power supplies bombed and inoperable."

A meeting in Rome yesterday (Wednesday) by American, European and Arab leaders failed to reach agreement on a cease-fire plan. "If Israel continues its attacks, we can only expect the situation for civilians in Lebanon to worsen."

Derr says the agency's fundraising appeal will support the work of its partners in the region, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC). Church World Service has expedited a delivery to the region of food, water containers bedding, and hygiene parcels.

Derr says, "We have initially shipped 5,000 Church World Service Health Kits, 500 water containers and a large supply of blankets, in support of current work on the ground by International Orthodox Christian Charities. IOCC is delivering food, water, bedding, hygiene parcels and medicines."

Church World Service's Derr says CWS is planning a shipment of food and non-food items to the Middle East Council of Churches. The Middle East Council of Churches is delivering food, non-food relief items, water and sanitation, and psychosocial attention and is responding through its Inter-church Network for Development in Lebanon (ICNDR) program and working in conjunction with the Action by Churches Together (ACT) International network.

International Orthodox Christian Charities is reporting that areas of Lebanon, particularly in the south, have been devastated.

Church World Service states particular concern for the disproportionate number of children being affected, as civilian casualties continue to flood area hospitals. The Lebanese government and United Nations estimate that more than 500,000 people are displaced from their homes, needing shelter, food, safe drinking water, sanitation and medical assistance. At least 140,000 have fled to Syria and other neighboring countries for refuge.

"People have fled their homes in various regions affected by the military operations in Lebanon and are sleeping in schools, monasteries and anywhere they can find shelter," said Linda Shaker, IOCC Program Coordinator for Lebanon based in Beirut.

People are feeling the lack of food and medical supplies and prices are increasing dramatically, says the Middle East Council of Churches.

In so-called safer areas Lebanese civilians are mobilizing and offering assistance to the displaced and hoping to receive rapid aid from local or international organizations.

As of Wednesday, Israel is reporting that 51 Israelis have been killed in rocket attacks across the Lebanon-Israel border or in combat by the militia of Hezbullah, an Islamic political party in Lebanon, with hundreds more Israelis injured and homes and other buildings in Israel destroyed or damaged.

Church World Service's Derr says the agency is concerned also about the humanitarian situation in the Israeli-occupied territories of the West Bank/Gaza, which also continues to worsen. Poverty rates in the area now standing at 75 percent. In March CWS issued an appeal for emergency medical assistance to Palestinian civilians, for the work of the Lutheran World Federation-Augusta Victoria Hospital in Jerusalem and Middle East Council of Churches assistance to civilians in the West Bank/Gaza. Given escalating violence, CWS says the fundraising appeal will likely be increased soon.

Church World Service has longstanding presence and partnerships in the Middle East. In 2005, CWS hosted a delegation to the U.S. of Christian, Muslim and Druze academics, policy advisors and religious leaders from Lebanon, Egypt and Syria to promote the positive Arab interfaith relationships that exist in the region and that pro-actively support peace.

Those who wish to contribute to humanitarian work in Lebanon are urged to contribute cash to the supporting charity of their choice, rather than material goods, says CWS' Derr.

Contributions to support humanitarian work in Lebanon may be made to Church World Service by credit card by calling (800) 297-1516, ext. 222; online at http://www.churchworldservice.org/; or by check to: Church World Service, Lebanon Crisis, Account #6820, P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN 46515.

Church World Service