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Past Emergency appeals

Middle East Crisis

Local villagers in Debbine receive relief parcels of food and hygiene items. 2,500 relief parcels were distributed across 12 villages in Marjeyoun in August 2006, including food items purchased locally and water purification tablets from World Vision's global positioning and resource network.

Local villagers in Debbine receive relief parcels of food and hygiene items. 2,500 relief parcels were distributed across 12 villages in Marjeyoun in August 2006, including food items purchased locally and water purification tablets from World Vision’s global positioning and resource network.

In late June 2006, Palestinian militants abducted an Israeli soldier, in response to the ongoing imprisonment of Palestinian women and children held in Israeli jails. Israel responded swiftly by entering Gaza in a series of attacks on Palestinian militants and infrastructure. A week later, Hezbollah forces in Lebanon captured two Israeli soldiers. Israel responded to the Hezbollah operation with a large-scale attack on Lebanon, destroying major infrastructure such as airports, roads and power grids.

The month-long conflict between Israel and Hezbollah resulted in many deaths and displacements across Lebanon, Israel and the Gaza Strip:

  • Lebanon: 1,184 Lebanese were killed and up to one million people reported to have fled their homes;
  • Israel: 159 Israelis were killed and tens of thousands of families were affected;
  • Gaza Strip: 202 Palestinians were killed and the total population of 1.4 million Palestinians were faced with major disruptions to the most basic services including water, power, access to food and healthcare.

In the first few days after the conflict erupted, World Vision, in partnership with the Lebanese Red Cross and UN agencies in Gaza, delivered food relief, medical supplies and shelter to displaced people across the country.

A World Vision relief shipment of water purification units, water containers and hygiene kits arrived in Lebanon in early August. Food parcels were delivered to 45,000 people in Beirut and southern Lebanon. The relief supplies came from two World Vision warehouses in Germany and Italy.

World Vision, along with several other leading Australian humanitarian agencies called on the Australian Prime Minister to support a permanent ceasefire in the Middle East, to allow over three million people in Gaza and Lebanon unrestricted access to urgent humanitarian relief.

Thanks to the generous support of Australians to the Middle East Crisis Appeal, World Vision is continuing to provide relief to families in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip who are suffering from the impact of the fighting.

World Vision staff are working on children’s rights programs, child friendly spaces, de-mining awareness and peace-building initiatives. A major winterisation program has been planned to assist up to 10,000 men, women and children in East Sidon and in parts of Beirut with essential winter supplies, like fuel for heating, traditional stoves, blankets, and plastic sheeting.

World Vision has been working in the Middle East for more than 30 years.

Last Updated: Wednesday, 7th February 2007.

© World Vision Australia ABN 28 004 778 081. All rights reserved. Last Modified: Thursday, June 14, 2007.
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