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Last updated: 2 September 2006
Middle East Crisis
Thousands of displaced Lebanese are making their way home across damaged roads and bridges, but many will only find ruins. They also face the danger of unexploded bombs. Around 900,000 people, or a quarter of the Lebanese population, were displaced by the bombardments.
With a ceasefire in place, Islamic Relief aid workers have been able to resume distributions of humanitarian assistance Tyre. Distributions of food aid continue in Sidon and Nabatiye.
On the war front in Palestine where air raids and ground assaults have left close to 200 people dead, there is no ceasefire. Many of the casualties have been civilians, and hundreds of people have been injured.
Like Lebanon, Gaza has suffered major damage to its roads, bridges and government buildings. The only power plant in Gaza has been destroyed, and Palestinians have had to face severe electricity shortages and water supply problems.
IR orphan killed
In Lebanon, children have been the main victims of this war. On 8th August an Islamic Relief sponsored orphan, Anwar Al Awad, 14, was killed in the bombardment of Ein al-Hilweh refugee camp, near Sidon. His brother, Ahmed, 15, was seriously injured in the attack and his condition remains critical.
Trapped
Many civilians remained trapped in battered towns or villages throughout the hostilities. Some were too poor to afford transport to escape, others were too scared of air strikes to leave.
IR aid workers in Nabatiye before the ceasefire found people hiding in basements of schools. "Children were frightened, noone was playing or laughing," said Marc-Andre LaGrange, IR Head of Mission in Lebanon. "Two days later we signed an agreement with the Major. I thought he was about to cry, he said that no one had come to help them."
IR Response Summary
Lebanon
IR is distributing food and other forms of humanitarian assistance to 10,000 people in Tyre.
In Sidon, 10,650 people receive aid from Islamic Relief, and in Nabatiye, IR is distributing aid to 3,000 people.
IR aid workers also distributed milk for toddlers among the Lebanese refugees in Syria.
Palestine
IR aid workers are distributing:
13,000 family food parcels
100 water storage tanks
Medicine
IR also provided fuel to run generators for the blood bank of the Public Aid Hospital in Gaza.
€5 million Appeal
Trucks carrying tonnes of Islamic Relief aid goods are on their way to Lebanon and more distributions are planned.
Meanwhile, IR has launched a worldwide appeal to raise 5 million Euros for our work.
For Media queries please email media@islamic-relief.org.uk
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