Mennonite
Central
Committee

MCC assesses needs of people returning to south Lebanon

Gladys Terichow
August 15, 2006

Despite massive damage to roads, buildings and bridges, thousands of Lebanese displaced by the war are returning to their homes and communities in southern Lebanon

In partnership with Lebanese organizations, MCC is assessing the needs of the people returning to homes that have been damaged or destroyed, said Willie Reimer, director of MCC's Food, Disaster and Material Resources department.

Initial assessment

The initial assessment is carried out by MCC's local staff member, Bassam Chamoun, whose home was damaged in early August when the town of Ansar in southern Lebanon was the target of an Israeli air attack.

Shortly after the conflict started, Chamoun, his wife Zeinab and their three children, Zelpha, Zeina and Hamoudi, moved to the living accommodations adjoining the MCC office in West Beirut.

North American staff to join Chamoun

As soon as possible, MCC staff from North America plan to join Chamoun and local partners to assess the needs of the returning people and develop a strategy to meet these needs, said Reimer.

In addition to basic survival needs, people directly affected by the conflict are dealing with fear, sorrow and despair created by the deaths and injuries of thousands of civilians, said Reimer.

"All of us are very concerned about the civilian casualties," he noted. "That has been one of the sad markers of this conflict—innocent people losing their lives and bearing so much hardship. We hope and pray the ceasefire will hold and that we can do this work as soon as possible."

Bombs not only destroy homes and infrastructures, they also destroy the hopes and dreams of people, said Chamoun in a recent interview.

After 34 days of conflict

A report from Middle East Council of Churches, a member of the global alliance Action by Churches Together and a long-standing MCC partner, states that the death toll in Lebanon resulting from the 34-day conflict has risen to 1,250 people. About 300 people are still missing and about 4,500 are wounded.

About one million people were displaced in Lebanon, many were living in temporary shelters, while others found refuge in neighbouring countries.

The BBC reports that the conflict claimed the lives of 114 Israeli soldiers and 43 civilians. Human Rights Watch reports 500,000 Israelis were displaced.

Calling for and end to the violence

MCC joined other organizations last month in calling for an end to the violence which is killing and injuring children and other innocent victims of war in Lebanon, Gaza and Israel.

MCC's emergency response in Lebanon and Gaza is currently $187,000 Cdn./$166,000 U.S.

MCC projects in Lebanon and Gaza focus on peace-building, conflict resolution and community development.

 

MCC staff member returns to war-torn southern Lebanon