Action by Churches Together (ACT) Alert - Lebanon - No 1/2000 Israeli withdrawal leaves a wasteland Geneva, 25 May, 2000
For the last few days the Interchurch Network for Development and Relief in Lebanon (INDR) has been working with local religious leaders and officials to determine the humanitarian needs and provision of assistance by ACT member, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC). The Network Regional Coordination Committee (RCC) of South Lebanon is already involved in initiatives taken by the local churches. Members of the RCC are participating in an NGO meeting, taking place in the South for coordination purposes. MECC staff are visiting the liberated villages, starting with Marjeyoun, to meet with the religious leaders and people in order assess needs. What was called the "Occupied Zone" was originally a fertile, agricultural area. However, during the Israeli occupation most of the agriculture land was dried or burnt out. As the resources declined dramatically so did job opportunities and the standard of living. Consequently, many of the inhabitants left the area, while those who remained either worked in Israel or joined the militia of South Lebanon Army (SLA) supported by Israel. The occupation has left a traumatized people, destroyed infrastructure and razed villages. Since Monday, the region is in partial darkness due to power rationing. There is also shortage of water, fuel for generators and equipped rooms for medical emergencies. A tide of people returning to the areas, especially those injured by land mines and explosives left behind by the Israeli army, is stretching the medical aid capacity. The current crisis calls for quick intervention to cover costs of food, clothing and medicines. MECC plans to follow up the initial assistance with plans for rehabilitation of essential infrastructure such as schools and hospitals. An ACT Appeal is likely to be issued in the coming days. Thank you for your attention. For further information please contact: ACT Co-ordinator, Thor-Arne Prois (phone ++41 22 791 6033 or mobile phone ++ 41 79 203 6055) or ACT Appeals Officer, Neville Pradhan (phone ++41 22 791 6035 or mobile phone ++41 79 285 2916) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Action by Churches Together (ACT) is a worldwide network of churches and their related agencies, meeting human need through co-ordinated emergency response. The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Ecumenical Centre Phone: ++41-22-791.60.33 150, route de Ferney Fax: ++41-22-791.65.06 1211 Geneva 2 Telex: 415 730 OIK CH Switzerland http://www.act-intl.org distributed by - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Volunteers in Technical Assistance Disaster Information Center lists: www.vita.org/listsub.htm sitreps nat-dsr web: www.vita.org fireline - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -