Middle East emergency

Many Sri Lankan women are lured away from their families by the offer of a good home and salary with a wealthy Lebanese family. But when they arrive, the dream of providing for their family can turn into a nightmare. [CAFOD]

CAFOD and its partners are helping communities in Lebanon to rebuild their lives after the war by replacing livestock and distributing seeds and fertiliser

When war returned to the Middle East in summer 2006 it had a devastating effect on the Lebanese people.

More than 1,100 people were killed – a third of whom were children - more than 4,000 suffered injuries, and almost one million forced to leave their homes by the bombing.

Those living in southern Lebanon – among the poorest even before the war – lost crops, livestock and other means of earning an income while, in Israel, much of the population of the north were living under the threat of rocket attacks.

Israeli incursions in the Gaza Strip caused additional hardship to the Palestinians.

Already suffering from a lack of basic supplies and daily necessities, many people had little or no access to health care as clinics and hospitals faced increased demand, tending to injuries and mental health issues.

Thanks to the generosity of its supporters, CAFOD raised almost £600,000 through its Middle East Appeal, and has spent £350,000 so far on immediate relief and long-term projects helping people rebuild their lives.

CAFOD partner Caritas Lebanon provided food and hygiene kits to people in the weeks immediately after the war in Lebanon.

It also replaced livestock and distributed fertiliser and seeds so farmers could grow new crops.

In the Gaza strip, CAFOD works through Caritas Jerusalem to set up rudimentary medical points in communities, which increase daily access to health care, suitable locations for distributing medical supplies, and improve emergency care.

Published on 16/04/2007, last updated on 14/05/2008

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