Dateline ACT

Lebanon 06/06

Humanitarian situation worsens for people of Lebanon

It is becoming increasingly difficult to get aid out to those in need in Lebanon. Local ACT member Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), reports that its warehouse now only contains enough relief supplies to last another three days.

By Hege Opseth

Beirut, August 7, 2006—Heavy bombardments that crushed bridges and parts of the main road between Syria and Lebanon in the early morning hours of Friday (August 4), have put enormous pressure on aid agencies and churches trying to meet the needs of hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people.

"The goods we have are being distributed quickly," said Shad Hajj Nassif, MECC-ACT’s emergency coordinator.

"With the isolation of Beirut, it is becoming increasingly difficult to get what we need."

The basement of a building of a faculty of theology has been turned into a ‘relief warehouse’. People displaced by the Israeli offensive are volunteering here, helping organise the emergency parcels that contain food and hygiene items.

The last 27 days have seen people’s lives changed forever. Many who fled the bombardment of their villages and the southern suburbs of Beirut, lost all their belongings. Only a few managed to bring extra clothes. Their independence has been stripped away, forcing them to rely on relief efforts by local and international relief organisations, including the churches.

"Some people cry when they get their emergency rations," a local volunteer in one of the centres supported by ACT International member MECC said.

As for the relief items, MECC’s Nassif explained: "We have supplies for another 2,000 emergency packets. That is enough for some three days.

"When our warehouse is empty we will manage, but it is going to be expensive. Being limited to suppliers in Beirut, prices are going up every day."

Because of the deterioration in security, truck drivers in Lebanon are afraid that they may be a potential target for the Israelis when they move on the roads. MECC-ACT’s solution has been to use smaller trucks when distributing aid.

"It means that we have to go back and forth three or four times to distribute aid. But, we continue working and are trying to find solutions," said Nassif.

Dwindling supplies of fuel, other basics, and a safe corridor to bring in aid are causing deep concern, as is the lack of access to those in need.