News Briefs: August 10, 2006
Lebanon appeal for US$4.9 million
CLWR, as a member of Action by Churches Together International (ACT), is continuing its appeal for Lebanese aid as Israel prepares for a ground offensive that could take a month or longer, according to BBC News sources. According to the BBC report released August 9, the Israeli cabinet has approved the movement of its army to the Litani River, 30km into southern Lebanon. An extra 30,000 Israeli troops might be involved in the push north.
ACT is appealing for US$4,877,152, with US$221,000 of that amount already collected. The Middle East Council of Churches, a member of ACT in Lebanon, is coordinating the response through its Inter-Church Network for Development and Relief in Lebanon (ICNDR).
The majority of the displaced are large families of about five to eight people, mostly children, women and elderly dependents. Women comprise about three quarters of the population covered by the appeal, and children under the age of 14 make up about half the group. Most of these people evacuated their homes on foot as Israel shelled their neighbourhoods and were not able to pack any supplies such as medicine or food.
The appeal is expected to cover ICNDR costs over the next three months for the following types of aid, directed to makeshift shelters in public and private schools, convents and shelters:
- Food rations to 6,650 families (39,900 persons).
- Supplementary food to 13,300 infants and children.
- Mattresses and bedding to 4,000 families.
- Cleaning supplies to 6,500 families.
- Kitchen utensils to 100 centres.
- Diapers to 13,300 babies (same targeted children mentioned above).
- Sanitary napkins to 19,950 women.
- Clean water to 40,000 persons.
- Water tanks and sanitation to 100 displaced centres and schools.
- Material for psycho-social rehabilitation activities targeting 1,500 children
Donations for the Lebanese Appeal can be made to CLWR online at clwr.org, by phone at 1.800.661.2597 (CLWR), or at 1080 Kingsbury Avenue, Winnipeg MB R2P 1W5.
—ACT International, BBC News
Gaza Strip in crisis
The eyes of the world are currently focused on Lebanon in the Middle East, but in Gaza, in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, where more than a hundred Palestinians have been killed in the conflict during the last month, the situation is equally critical.
Geneva, August 2, 2006-The humanitarian situation in Gaza can only be described as critical, with food, electricity and water shortages increasing, compounded by the escalating conflict in the region.
"The eyes of the world are focused on Lebanon, but our situation here is chaotic," said Constantine Dabbagh, director of the Gaza-based Middle East Council of Churches' Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees (MECC/DSPR), which is a member of ACT International.
Since Israel bombed Gaza's only electricity power station on June 28 this year, power supplies have been cut in half, leaving several hospitals without electricity. This has meant that operations that were to be performed on people have had to be cancelled. Food supplies, medicines and vaccines have also been destroyed, because refrigerators no longer work. The hospitals that are without electricity are relying on generators, which require an enormous amount of fuel, which in turn is in short supply due to the difficulty of getting supplies into Gaza.
In spite of the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza in September last year, Israel still controls all the borders to Gaza, as well as its sea and airspace. According to International Humanitarian Law, and in particular Article 54 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, it is duty bound as an occupying state to meet the basic needs of the population, including food, medicines and housing.
And even though the major entry point used mainly for cargo into Gaza, at Karni Crossing, was opened temporarily in order to allow food to be brought in, a large proportion of the population simply cannot afford to buy the food.
"It is important to remember in our prayers, our thoughts and by our support, the people who are suffering as a result of this conflict," says Henrik Fröjmark, the secretary for the Middle East for the Church of Sweden, which is a member of the global alliance Action by Churches Together.
Currently, almost one million people in Lebanon have been displaced. In Gaza, the situation is equally critical.
"Gaza is facing a terrible humanitarian situation. The supply of fresh water, which is an absolute necessity in [a region where temperatures can reach] 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), is in principle non-existent. Particularly in the refugee camps the situation is extremely serious," Henrik Fröjmark says.
"People who are employed by the Palestinian Authority have not received their wages for several months," MECC/DSPR's Mr Dabbagh said. "They number some 60,000 to 70,000 people, many of whom have up to seven family members relying on them for food," he added.
"We appeal to the world around to make sure that there is an end to this occupation. We cannot continue like this for much longer," said Mr Dabbagh.
Last week, a shipment of supplies from CLWR was received by Lutheran World Federation-Jerusalem Program. A portion of that shipment is slated for delivery into Gaza if security concerns can be met.
—ACT International, CLWR News Service
Urgent need for warehouse space
CLWR has an urgent need for warehouse space in Winnipeg to temporarily accommodate donated goods. Baled, palletized goods, equivalent in volume to two 40-foot trailers, require a home for two to six months as CLWR ramps up the processing of donations in preparation for its next overseas shipment.
“This is a one-time need, and the hope is that a CLWR supporter has warehouse access with a loading dock, preferably in the Inkster Industrial Park, or elsewhere in Northwest Winnipeg,” says Dennis Coughlan, Warehouse Coordinator. CLWR would be responsible for the movement and loading of goods, adds Coughlan.
If you know of any available space, please call CLWR at 1.800.661.2597.
—CLWR News Service
Youth choir visits CLWR
Albion, Nebraska has only 1,800 residents, but a Lutheran youth choir from this American town is proving that size doesn’t matter—especially when it comes to sharing God’s love.
BLEST-2-BLESS, a group of 31 from Zion Lutheran, Albion, struck out on a seven-day mission tour that took them due north into Manitoba. The choir performed good works along their way through Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) was visited by the group in early August as they wrapped up their journey. After a tour of the CLWR Winnipeg office, the choir helped in the CLWR warehouse, sorting donated goods.
The group, led by Choir Director Keri Brugger, had been invited to Winnipeg to perform at Redeemer Lutheran Church. BLEST-2-BLESS (taking their name from Genesis 12:3) is active in their hometown, having raised funds to furnish a seniors’ centre with a piano and provide textbooks to a seminary student from Pakistan.
—CLWR News Service
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