December 4, 2006

by Toya Richards Hill, ACT communicator who was working within the Middle East Council of Churches' Inter-Church Network for Development and Relief (ICNDR) in Lebanon

General information

November 22 marked 100 days since the United Nations-brokered ceasefire that ended the fighting between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. The time has yielded recovery and healing, and the emergency relief effort has shifted from the crisis to the post-crisis phase. In terms of the ACT appeal, work is narrowing, and key areas of the appeal are being refined in order to conclude most of the work by January 31, 2007.

Non-food relief

Among the greatest needs currently being expressed in villages are non-food relief items. Long-time Church World Service partner, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), through its humanitarian relief arm, Inter-Church Network for Development and Relief (ICNDR) in Lebanon, has outlined a distribution plan that includes agriculture assistance and essential winter supplies.

Beginning in early December, 32,750 seedlings will be distributed to 1,310 people, and 1,250 beehives will go out to 250 people in villages in South Lebanon and the Bekaa. Nine-hundred-ninety heaters and 6,000 blankets (two per family) will also be distributed.

International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) is continuing its work in the area of non-food relief, and is currently carrying out distributions to 95 families. Hygiene kits, heaters or gas stoves, cooking pans, bed covers and blankets are being distributed during November and December. More than 3,000 additional families are being assisted in the same manner through IOCC with funding from the U.S. government.

Psychosocial assistance

Another huge need identified is in the psychosocial sector. ICNDR, in collaboration with the Church of Sweden (CoS), will provide a range of services throughout Lebanon from now until January. Equipment will be provided for children with mental and physical handicaps, and entertainment events for children ages 3 to 6 are planned. Vocational training is also planned.

Water and sanitation

December and January will see the continuation of water and sanitation work implemented by Norwegian Church Aid in support of ICNDR. When work is completed, which is expected to be by the end of January 2007, the joint team will have:

- distributed 5,000 water-storage tanks

- repaired, laid and fitted water pipes in 10 villages

- trucked water into 11 villages

- provided 15 generators

- distributed 10,250 hygiene kits

- provided other general services such as emptying septic tanks and purifying water

In all, water and sanitation efforts are being completed in more than 80 Lebanese villages by NCA and ICNDR.

Work with the disabled

Christian Aid (CAID) has identified work with the physically disabled as a main area of focus during this post-crisis phase and beyond. Through one of its local partners, the Lebanese Physically Handicapped Union (LPHU), CAID is working with 485 beneficiaries and their families from South Lebanon, Bekaa, and Beirut who were affected by the conflict. Health and medical support, as well as livelihood rehabilitation, is being provided for women, children, and the elderly with disabilities, and families with a disabled member.

Livelihood restoration

CAID's work also continues in the area of livelihood restoration through another of its local partners, Mouvement Social. The goal is to reach 300 small farmers, small shop owners, craftsmen and craftswomen living in South Lebanon (in particularly Saida and Nabatieh) and Bekaa. Indirectly, the project is expected to reach about 1,500 people, namely the families of the beneficiaries and others who may work with or benefit from the income-generating activities. Priority will be given to:

- widows and women on whose income the family partially or completely relies upon

- men who have to support their families

- senior farmers or owners of small business,

- disabled people

- victims of the war

Activities of ACT members working outside the appeal

Relief work of ACT members working outside the appeal has also progressed. Key areas of focus have been mine removal, mine-risk education and mine-victim assistance -- all grouped under the category of humanitarian mine action -- and additional non-food relief.

Humanitarian mine action

DanChurchAid (DCA) has established a multi-person staff contingent on the ground in Lebanon that is tasked with helping rid the country of the scores of cluster bombs and unexploded ordnance that litter the land. With funding from the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO), DCA will engage in battle-area clearance to remove the bombs. DanChurchAid's demining work is expected to be operational by early January and continue through December 2007.

Non-food relief

DCA is also engaging in non-food relief, again with European Commission funding. Beginning the second week of December, DCA will distribute heaters and fuel supplies for three months to 3,000 families in South Lebanon. The distribution will also include blankets and diapers. ICNDR assisted DCA during the assessment phase of the non-food relief efforts.

Church World Service is a member of ACT, a global alliance of churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergencies worldwide.

Contributions to support humanitarian assistance to civililans in need in Lebanon may be made to Church World Service by credit card online or by calling (800) 297-1516, ext. 222; or by check to:

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

Media Contacts: Lesley Crosson, CWS/New York, 212-870-2676; lcrosson@churchworldservice.org Jan Dragin (24/7), 781-925-1526; jdragin@gis.net

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