Action by Churches Together (ACT) Appeal - Lebanon Emergency Assistance in Southern Lebanon-MELB01 Appeal Target: US$ 367,317 Geneva, 04 July, 00
The recent withdrawal of the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) from South Lebanon after 22 years has created in its wake, considerable humanitarian needs. Thousands of Lebanese who were displaced by the occupation are now returning to their damaged and destroyed homes and villages. There is already fear, that the difficult living conditions in South Lebanon, may lead to major population movements towards urban areas, especially to Beirut and its suburbs as well as cause migration to western countries. According to ACT member, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), there is urgent need to provide both relief and rehabilitation assistance to the returnees as well as to other vulnerable sections of the population to prevent further deterioration in their conditions. In response, the ACT Coordinating Office sent MECC US$ 25,000 from its Rapid Response Funds (RRF) to enable MECC to address some of the immediate needs of the people. MECC proposes to continue providing much needed assistance in the form of: Food Supplies Medical Aid Water & Sanitation Agricultural Assistance Income Generation Training/Campaigns on Danger of Mines Peace & Reconciliation Activities The project has already commenced and will be completed by 31 December, 00. Ms. Genevieve Jacques Thor-Arne Prois Rev. Rudolf Hinz Director ACT Coordinator Director WCC/Cluster on Relations LWF/World Service REQUESTING ACT MEMBER Middle East Council of Churches (MECC). The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) is a fellowship of churches relating to the main stream of the modern ecumenical movement. The activities and programs of MECC seek to encourage Christians to remain in the region and to make positive contributions towards a new and better future. MECC nurtures within the churches, the spirit and resources for service in the Middle East, an arena for economic, political and often violent conflict. In this environment, the Council's engagement in emergency relief has been targeting the poor - the oppressed and exploited and the deprived and displaced in countries such as Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Egypt and others. The relief actions and emergency interventions of MECC were always directed towards the affected communities, regardless of their religious, ethnic or political affiliation. IMPLEMENTING ACT MEMBER & PARTNER INFORMATION MECC/Interchurch Network for Development and Relief in Lebanon (INDR) In Lebanon, MECC's Emergency Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction program (ERR) was launched in 1975 to help the churches cope with the effects of civil war and assist its victims. Services have been provided without regard to religious or ethnic affiliation. Thus concrete foundations have been laid for MECC's role as mediator in peace making and reconciliation in Lebanon. Relief operations were carried out during periods of intense need, implemented by 75 active staff. As relief measures were phased out, stress was placed on rehabilitation services and development activities. These included income generating projects, education assistance, community health and agricultural development. Reconstruction services have enabled the rebuilding of homes, churches, community institutions and infrastructure. Budgets managed and monitored ranged between US$ 2 to 4 million per year. The former Emergency Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction program was transformed into the Interchurch Network for Development and Relief in Lebanon (INDR) in 1999. This network now ensures the coordination and management of the MECC development and relief projects in Lebanon. DESCRIPTION of the EMERGENCY SITUATION Background & Current Situation 24 May 2000 was the last day for the withdrawal of the Israeli Army from the South and the Western Beqaa of Lebanon after an occupation that lasted 22 years. Since 1978, Israel had occupied 15% of Lebanon's total area (10,452km2) inhabited by half a million people. What was called the "Occupied Zone" is mostly an agricultural fertile land. However, during long years of devastating and destructive occupation, most agriculture fields were dried out or burnt. As resources declined dramatically, there was no way to initiate new resourceful projects due to the war. This compelled the majority (about 300,000) of the inhabitants to leave the region. Among those who stayed, some allied with the Israelis and either took up occupations in Israel or joined the Israeli supported South Lebanon Army (SLA). This region has thus survived all through the 22 years on those two major sources of income. In addition, war between the Israeli occupation forces and the Lebanese resistance aggravated the situation and there was no way to develop any job opportunities to raise income levels and thereby the standards of living. The war has also traumatized people and destroyed almost all infrastructures and property in many villages, transforming villages into deserted homes. Only the poorest and most deprived stayed on their land. However with large numbers returning to the area and with reports of cross border incidents, the current security situation remains the major concern. People ask what next and who will be in charge of security and when will the UN deploy its security forces in the area. Damages & Impact on Human Lives Since 22 May, human lives have been in turmoil. Tens of thousands of the displaced are expected to start returning to their homes after years of displacement. Their needs are great and there is a lot to be done. The related government councils and ministries have started assessing the needs for reconstruction and development. There is a fear that the developing difficult living conditions in the area might lead to major population movements, both towards urban areas, especially to Beirut and its suburbs as well as cause migration to countries in Europe and/or America. Hence, both for reasons of civil peace and economic regeneration, the displaced need to be encouraged to return to their former homes and villages and assisted to resume their normal lives. Infrastructure Damage and destruction to most houses, churches and infrastructure occurred throughout the years of occupation. Some villages were completely demolished such as Sujud and Hanin among others, leaving a population of about 10,000 homeless. The government is now securing electricity to the entire region for 4 to 6 hours per day. The water in some villages used to come from Israel which has since stopped, leaving those villages without any access to water. The latest displacement of some families that used to work in Israel or in the South Lebanon Army led some schools to shut down or to continue the scholastic year with the remaining one third of their students. This is adding to the number of unemployed since more teachers find themselves with no students to teach. Health During the war, the region had some health facilities with two hospitals located in Marjeyoun and Bint Jbeil run under Israeli administration in addition to some Lebanese Red Cross and local associations related dispensaries that were meeting the health needs of the inhabitants. With the Israeli withdrawal, doctors and nurses had to stop working, transforming the two hospitals into clinics. The closest hospital is now located 30-40 kms away. Furthermore, the rapid, chaotic return of large numbers of people is increasing demand on medical aid, especially those injured by the explosion of mines and explosives left behind by the Israeli army. The dispensaries in the remote villages lack proper equipment and medicines while doctors are scarce and many people miss the necessary medical care provided by the two hospitals that have recently closed. An urgent concern is the contaminated water in many villages. The UNIFIL troops have carried out tests on water springs and reservoirs. In Khiam and the surrounding villages, 9 out of 10 samples were considered contaminated and not suitable for drinking. There is a complete absence of any health inspection on farm animals along with a lack of proper vaccinations and insufficient guidance and awareness, resulting in some infectious diseases common to man and animal (eg. Malta fever - around 50 cases every year) starting to spread in the last few years. Youth The essential need in rebuilding a healthy society is reinforcing encounter and contact among people of the same area, even among people of the same village, who have been displaced for more than twenty years. The fact that there are conflicts between some villages and some religions should not be hidden and among the living examples are Khiam and Qoleiha as well as Hanin and its surroundings. There are also disagreements within family members due to differences in opinions and long periods of forced displacement. Working on rebuilding bridges and dialogue, even though slow, will enhance social interaction and co-existence between communities. There is a fear that if the economic situation continues to deteriorate in terms of securing income, the youth movement will continue to rebel and perhaps on a larger scale. Those who escaped to Israel need to be encouraged to return. Unless there is a prompt and effective response from the international community, the people living in distress will find it extremely hard, if not impossible to cope with the situation. Agriculture The problems of agriculture in Lebanon in general can be summarized as high production costs, competition of exported goods and lack of required skills. This sector is thus considered to be a priority intervention sector that would provide job opportunities to the most needy, either living in the region or returning to the region because of: - the relatively remote location of the targeted villages, - the historical background of the last 30 years that had prohibited any kind of economic investment and - the availability of fertile and vast expanses of land suitable for reclamation and cultivation. It is therefore essential to encourage development and expansion of the agricultural and food industry sector - a UN report on the economic situation of the then occupied zone highlighted this fact. This sector also suffers from the destruction of its infrastructure as orchards were burnt, irrigation canals damaged and landmines placed in the fields. Locations for Proposed Response The affected population is considerably large but MECC will concentrate on villages in the three main clusters of: Marjeyoun - Hasbaya Jezzine Bint Jbeil - Nakoura The targeted locations are the most badly affected and MECC has the field capacity to respond through local village committees or partner PVOs working on the ground. Another reason for choosing those clusters is the fact that little intervention has been made by other organizations with the exception of some services rendered by the Lebanese Red Cross and the Jihad el Binaa', the development organization of Hizbullah. Caritas and World Vision have also distributed some food rations valued at around US$ 85 per family in selected villages. However, most of the villages have not yet received any assistance. Many aid organizations are planning to work in the liberated South and are currently surveying needs and fields of involvement. There is considerably good coordination at the field level but the mechanism for joint ventures is not well established yet, although MECC/INDR has initiated many coordination efforts with governmental institutions, church related associations available on the ground and other NGOs represented in the collective NGO national platform. Statistics Present statistics show estimates but not accurate figures. The Israeli withdrawal led to the surrender of around 1,700 militiamen to government authorities and a equally large number of families left behind with no source of income. There were about 5,000 men and women who used to cross the border every day to work in Israel and who are without any source of income now. It is worth mentioning that most incomes were invested in property and building of houses and not in income generating projects, depriving those families of any source of earning a living. The unexpected retreat caused the displacement of around 1,500 officers, security agents and troopers of SLA into Israel accompanied by their family members (estimated to be over 4,000 persons). The government and the UNDP reports contain information on the needs of all south Lebanon but does not provide information and statistics concerning the targeted clusters or the liberated areas in particular. GOAL & OBJECTIVES The overall goal of the proposed response is to enable the most vulnerable of the affected population in the proposed clusters of villages to cope with the effects of war. In doing so, MECC/INDR aims at sustaining peoples' lives and reducing their sufferings and distress caused by war and devastation in south Lebanon. MECC/INDR has thus drawn up the following objectives: Provide food supplies to destitute families, Provide medical equipment for dispensaries in villages lacking health services, Secure clean drinking water, Prevent health hazards and transmission of diseases, Initiate income-generating projects and build capacities of artisans, Raise awareness on dangers of mines and Encourage multi-confessional reconciliation and re-integrative activities. TARGETED BENEFICIARIES The needs exceed the capacity of the stranded communities who have no resources to fall back upon. The target communities that will benefit from ACT assistance are the most vulnerable victims living in or returning to the liberated but destroyed villages located in the 3 identified geographic clusters. INDR will address the arising needs of its targeted communities regardless of their gender, religious or political affiliation. The beneficiaries comprise: Poor elderly, women and children left behind with no source of income and who depended on others for survival, Families which have lost their source of income, Families requested to immediately leave housing facilities they occupied for years and who have no other alternatives or means to rent, Returning displaced families, coming back from the poor neighborhoods they have lived in, to their partially/totally destroyed houses and burnt orchards, Families who have lived in the region and had no contact with the world for long periods of time, deprived of their right to education and development, Youth and children who never belonged to a nation or a country and think that the world ends at the last house of the village and have no thoughts apart from those of war and repulsion, and Individuals living in danger and continual threat of death or injury from land mines planted along the road sides or in agriculture fields. PROPOSED ASSISTANCE & IMPLEMENTATION The proposed assistance will be implemented by MECC/INDR through its local community based partners. The local churches will be in charge of the implementation and follow up, assisted by an MECC/INDR field team of two coordinators created for this purpose. The present bishoprics or schools will offer the field offices. The procurement will most likely take place in the region to encourage the local market and reduce transportation costs. Life Sustaining assistance will include: In-kind one time distribution of necessary food items and detergents to some families living in villages that were not covered by other institutions. The assistance will be restricted to the families that have suddenly lost their source of income in the last few weeks and are in desperate need for assistance. The cost of the food ration or lot will be US$ 50 but has an actual value of US$ 20 due to high cost of merchandise in Lebanon. Direct assistance to dispensaries situated in villages witnessing return of large numbers of families but not equipped to serve large numbers of patients. Assistance in testing drinking water and supplying equipment for purification or repairing existing equipment that is not functioning. Securing some vaccines or medicines for animals (cows and goats) to prevent spread of diseases. Rehabilitation assistance is necessary to enable communities to recover from the worst effects of war and return to normal life conditions. Assistance will include: Repairing irrigation canals, water reservoirs and access roads. Distribution of seeds, fertilizers and seedlings. Provide grants/loans to enable beneficiaries to start/resume income generating activities. In addition, as there is considerable need for Peace and Reconciliation activities, MECC/INDR plan to organize the following: Training sessions on dangers of mines, precaution measures and related awareness campaigns as these are vital for survival and security. Re-integrative activities and workshops to help children and youth overcome sorrow, pain, hatred and revenge and lead to reconciliation and peace. ADMINISTRATION, FINANCE, MONITORING & EVALUATION The INDR central coordination committee is made up of 8 volunteer members representing the local churches and includes the Greek Orthodox, Maronite, Evangelical and the Greek Catholic Church. This committee has been involved in the planning of the proposed response and will also be in charge of the overall supervision of this project. The INDR central office together with the local church is in charge of assessing needs as well as implementation, monitoring and evaluation and reporting of the project. The Director of INDR will coordinate all related tasks and responsibilities with the local implementers and beneficiaries. All matters related to finance and audit will be the responsibility of the MECC finance department in Beirut. COORDINATION After the withdrawal of Israelis and their supported militia, the Interchurch Network for Development and Relief in Lebanon (INDR) has been working with its local partners, religious leaders, NGOs and official authorities to study the possibilities for the Middle East Council of Churches to intervene. They all welcomed collaboration, joint assessments of needs and coordinated assistance. MECC's previous experience and expertise in such interventions have facilitated the process and encouraged others to join in the efforts. The Regional Coordination Committee of South Lebanon relates to INDR and is formed of church representatives that come from the region and are involved in initiatives taken by the local churches. The local bishopric will be the place for coordination. The local deacon will be in charge of the implementation and follow up, assisted by an MECC field team created for this purpose. BUDGET ACT-MECC/INDR ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE Category/Description Type of No of Unit Cost Budget Unit Units US$ US$ Direct Assistance Food Supplies Lot per Family 300 50 15,000 Medical Aid for 10 Dispensaries Equipment 10 3,000 30,000 Water & Sanitation Tests 40 75 3,000 Repairs 15 650 9,750 Equipment 10 2,250 22,500 Vaccines for Animals Lot per Family 75 40 3,000 Income Generating Projects Grant 100 500 50,000 Agricultural Rehabilitation Fertilizers 100 40 4,000 Seeds/Seedlings 4000 5 20,000 Infrastructure Repairs 15 4,500 67,500 Danger of mines Training 10 2,000 20,000 Campaign 10 1,000 10,000 Reconciliation Camp 9 4,750 42,750 Workshop 4 4,000 16,000 Sub Total 313,500 Material Transport, Storage & Handling Trucking Costs 500 Labor for Loading & Unloading 100 Sub Total 600 Admin. & Other Support Costs Salaries (3 staff) Months 8 900 21,600 Insurance Staff 3 1,000 3,000 Volunteer Stipends/Honorariums 1,500 INDR Coord. Costs (25%) Months 8 625 5,000 Travel Lumpsum 2,200 Office Utilities 1,500 Stationery & Supplies 500 Tel., Fax & Email 2,500 Maintenance & Fuel Vehicle 4 920 3,680 Insurance Vehicle 4 150 600 Audit 5,500 Evaluation 2,000 Sub Total 49,580 Total Project Expenditure 363,680 Add: Emergency Management Training Costs (1% of Total) 3,637 TOTAL EXPENDITURE & APPEAL TARGET 367,317 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 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 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -