Crisis in the Middle East - July 2006

SCIAF's sister agencies in Lebanon and Jerusalem are helping those affected by current fighting. The local Caritas organisations are providing essential supplies to those most in need whilst Caritas Internationalis, the international network of Catholic aid agencies of which SCIAF is a member, is calling for a ceasefire.

In Lebanon, more than 500,000 people have been affected and Caritas Lebanon is providing aid and assistance to over 25,000 across the country. Schools, convents, and public buildings are being inundated by people seeking refuge, while others are being taken in by friends or family, and even strangers, Caritas Lebanon said.

As the fighting continues, Caritas Lebanon has mobilized a fleet of mobile health clinics around the country, bringing aid to the most vulnerable including children, the old and the sick. They are also providing water, food and emergency supplies such as soap, medicine, milk and baby products. A major concern is that prices are increasing and such essentials could soon become unavailable on the market.

In Jerusalem, the local Caritas is providing vital medical care and social welfare support to families in Gaza and the West Bank. They have distributed food coupons to over 500 families in the Al Breij region and Gaza. They are working with some of the most vulnerable families and plan to help 10,000 people in total to gain access to food over the coming weeks.

The Caritas Confederation has called for a ceasefire in the conflict which has already cost over 300 people their lives. Caritas is urging both sides to take all necessary measures to avoid harming the civilian population and for safe access for humanitarian agencies to carry out their work.

Caritas has opened an appeal for more than $US 1,400,000 to fund its relief effort.

2nd August 2006