2024-10-01 17:29:17
The outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip in October 2023 has led to significant destabilization of the region. Lebanon is particularly affected by this. The ground offensive against Hezbollah launched by the Israeli army, supported by air force and artillery, has displaced up to a million people, including many children, within just a few days. Over a thousand people have already been killed in the offensive and the civilian infrastructure has been largely destroyed. The water, electricity and telecommunications infrastructure in southern Lebanon is significantly damaged and shelters nationwide are lacking food, mattresses and blankets. Due to the ongoing financial crisis in the country, state institutions have been severely weakened and are dependent on international support. Alex Bodmann, Vice President of Caritas Austria: “Since the outbreak of the conflict, our long-standing partner organizations Caritas Lebanon and AMEL have started helping the population through their emergency hotlines and their presence in mobile medical facilities, schools and shelters. The need for humanitarian aid for the population is continually assessed. It is clear that we will continue to expand our long-standing support.”
International humanitarian law has the highest priority
“The protection of civilians and first responders must be the highest priority in all military actions. This is required by international humanitarian law,” said Bodmann. “Colleagues on site report people being panicked by air raids; refugees can be seen spending the night in gardens, on roadsides and in open-air places. The humanitarian situation in the region is catastrophic,” reports Bodmann. In addition to the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip and the now escalating situation in Lebanon, the fate of the Syrian refugees in Lebanon is particularly tragic. Many want to return to Syria, but the borders are overcrowded and the route there is dangerous. The Syrians are also joined by more than 120,000 Lebanese who are seeking protection in Syria, a country torn apart by civil war. “This is a very dramatic situation for people across the region. Our local partner organizations urgently need our solidarity and support – for this we urgently ask for donations!” There is a great need for food packages, baby care products, blankets, hygiene products, first aid materials and medication. Hundreds of volunteers are also supporting the distribution of relief supplies on site and cooking meals for internally displaced people. “In order to be able to provide this help, we need improved access for humanitarian aid and its helpers. A ceasefire is urgently needed in order to protect the civilian population in the entire region and to be able to provide a fairly stable supply of relief supplies,” explains Alex Bodmann. “We urgently appeal to the international community and the United Nations to continue their negotiations so that peaceful coexistence in the region can quickly become possible again.”
This is how Caritas helps
Caritas Austria has been operating in the Middle East since the 1990s. In the wake of the outbreak of the Syrian civil war, aid in the region – especially in Lebanon – was greatly expanded. The areas of emergency aid, protection and medical care as well as education are the focus of support, which is now to be intensified even further.
Since the outbreak of the conflict, Caritas Lebanon and AMEL Association have already supported almost 25,000 people with aid. Immediate assistance is provided to internally displaced people through its emergency hotline and its presence in (mobile) medical facilities, four schools and three safe shelters. Concrete help is provided with medical care, advice, mattresses, blankets and winter packages. Hot meals, food packages and hygiene packages, including those specifically for babies and older people, are distributed in the collective shelters. Cash assistance for people in emergency shelters and accommodation for internally displaced persons will also be provided.
In order to maintain and expand this urgently needed aid, our partners need all of our support. We thank you for your donations!
Caritas donation account:
Erste Bank: IBAN AT23 2011 1000 0123 4560, BIC EXPERIMENTWWXXX
Keyword: Middle East conflict
Online donations: www.caritas.at/nahost-konflikt
1727805011
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