Christian Aid emergency appeal swings into action
-24/07/06
Christian Aid has made two
Christian Aid emergency appeal swings into action
-24/07/06
Christian Aid has made two emergency grants to its partner organisations working on the humanitarian crises unfolding in Lebanon and in the Gaza Strip. Both grants are for urgent and short term emergency work being funded by Christian Aidís Middle East crisis appeal.
The UK churchesí international development agency, which works with people irrespective of creed or background, has transferred £38,000 to the Lebanese Physical Handicapped Union (LPHU) to help buy food and medicine for 2,500 people, many of whom are disabled and many of whom have fled the conflict areas.
Christian Aid has also transferred £20,000 to the Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committee (PARC) which works in the Gaza Strip. The money will buy water storage tanks for 500 families ñ or around 3,500 people in total.
Israeli military incursions into Gaza have badly damaged the water-pumping infrastructure and water is only available intermittently. The tanks are essential for collecting and storing water when it is available.
Christian Aid spokesperson Dominic Nutt explained: ìThese grants are the first of many. We will be responding to requests from our Lebanese and Gazan partners as and when they make them.î
He continued: ìThe situation is extremely fluid at the moment, particularly in Lebanon. People are fleeing the fighting. The UN estimates that 400,000 people have already moved. These people need help ñ food, blankets, medicine and water.î
However Nutt said that ìthe fact they are on the move makes it very difficult to know who is where and what their precise needs are. Add to this the fact that the region is under constant attack and you have the beginnings of a potential humanitarian crisis.î
Concluded the Christian Aid representative: ìWe hope that we can help keep a lid on this crisis. But of course, the longer this military campaign continues the worse the situation will get. This is why we are appealing for money now.î
Members of the public can make a donation here to Christian Aidís Middle East crisis appeal
[Also on Ekklesia: Mennonites issue action alert on Middle East crisis 24/07/06; Middle East churches document and condemn Lebanon horror 23/07/06; US churches appeal to Bush as Israel seizes Lebanese village 23/07/06; Aid agencies say Blair must call for immediate Middle East ceasefire 22/07/06; WCC urges churches to support Middle East appeals 21/07/06; Churches redouble efforts and prayers for an end to Middle East hostilities 21/07/06; Williams laments Lebanon vicious spiral of violence 20/07/06; Gaza, Israel and Lebanon crises are imperilling Middle East security 19/07/06; Historic Galilee sites hit by rocket attacks 18/07/06; Pope condemns Lebanon raids as G8 converges and Blair blames Iran and Syria 17/07/06; Christians call for end to Lebanon violence as Israel vows revenge 16/07/06; Middle East Christians in anguish over Lebanon violence 14/07/06; Embattled Hezbollah backs Iraq ‘doves of peace’; Christian warnings substantiated as Israel targets Hamas; Ex-spy wages peace on terror in the Middle East; UK church and aid agencies concerned over Gaza situation]
Christian Aid emergency appeal swings into action
-24/07/06
Christian Aid has made two emergency grants to its partner organisations working on the humanitarian crises unfolding in Lebanon and in the Gaza Strip. Both grants are for urgent and short term emergency work being funded by Christian Aidís Middle East crisis appeal.
The UK churchesí international development agency, which works with people irrespective of creed or background, has transferred £38,000 to the Lebanese Physical Handicapped Union (LPHU) to help buy food and medicine for 2,500 people, many of whom are disabled and many of whom have fled the conflict areas.
Christian Aid has also transferred £20,000 to the Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committee (PARC) which works in the Gaza Strip. The money will buy water storage tanks for 500 families ñ or around 3,500 people in total.
Israeli military incursions into Gaza have badly damaged the water-pumping infrastructure and water is only available intermittently. The tanks are essential for collecting and storing water when it is available.
Christian Aid spokesperson Dominic Nutt explained: ìThese grants are the first of many. We will be responding to requests from our Lebanese and Gazan partners as and when they make them.î
He continued: ìThe situation is extremely fluid at the moment, particularly in Lebanon. People are fleeing the fighting. The UN estimates that 400,000 people have already moved. These people need help ñ food, blankets, medicine and water.î
However Nutt said that ìthe fact they are on the move makes it very difficult to know who is where and what their precise needs are. Add to this the fact that the region is under constant attack and you have the beginnings of a potential humanitarian crisis.î
Concluded the Christian Aid representative: ìWe hope that we can help keep a lid on this crisis. But of course, the longer this military campaign continues the worse the situation will get. This is why we are appealing for money now.î
Members of the public can make a donation here to Christian Aidís Middle East crisis appeal
[Also on Ekklesia: Mennonites issue action alert on Middle East crisis 24/07/06; Middle East churches document and condemn Lebanon horror 23/07/06; US churches appeal to Bush as Israel seizes Lebanese village 23/07/06; Aid agencies say Blair must call for immediate Middle East ceasefire 22/07/06; WCC urges churches to support Middle East appeals 21/07/06; Churches redouble efforts and prayers for an end to Middle East hostilities 21/07/06; Williams laments Lebanon vicious spiral of violence 20/07/06; Gaza, Israel and Lebanon crises are imperilling Middle East security 19/07/06; Historic Galilee sites hit by rocket attacks 18/07/06; Pope condemns Lebanon raids as G8 converges and Blair blames Iran and Syria 17/07/06; Christians call for end to Lebanon violence as Israel vows revenge 16/07/06; Middle East Christians in anguish over Lebanon violence 14/07/06; Embattled Hezbollah backs Iraq ‘doves of peace’; Christian warnings substantiated as Israel targets Hamas; Ex-spy wages peace on terror in the Middle East; UK church and aid agencies concerned over Gaza situation]