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International
Federation revises appeal to support Red Cross Red Crescent operations
to assist evacuees from Lebanon 11 August 2006 The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has revised its emergency appeal to support Red Cross and Red Crescent assistance programmes for people fleeing hostilities in Lebanon. It now seeks 5 million Swiss francs (€ 3.2 million / US$ 4.1 million) to assist 65,000 people over the next three months and to replenish emergency stocks. The appeal also covers preparations for possible population movements into countries neighbouring Lebanon. The funds will be used to provide food, shelter, water and sanitation services, hygiene articles, medical care and psychosocial support to people who have fled the conflict in Lebanon and have sought refuge in Syria and Cyprus, as well as assistance to host families who have taken in these evacuees. “We estimate that Syrian Arab Red Crescent volunteers and staff are currently caring for more than 50,000 people living in shelters or with host families,” explains Malika Aït-Mohamed Parent, Head of the Federation’s Middle East North Africa Department in Geneva. “Since mid-July, the Red Cross on Cyprus has brought some form of assistance to an estimated 40,000 people, most of them in transit. It is vital that we support them to make sure people fleeing Lebanon have access to basic necessities, adequate medical care, psychosocial support and tracing services.” With vital support provided by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Lebanese Red Cross (LRC) emergency medical services (EMS) continue to evacuate the war wounded and civilians, and to deliver medical supplies to hospitals and ambulance stations. Since the beginning of the crisis, the LRC has taken nearly 780 wounded people to hospital, evacuated some 5,400 civilians and removed more than 250 bodies from the rubble of destroyed buildings. LRC youth volunteers are providing food, water and hygiene articles to some 200,000 displaced people in and around Beirut. Some Federation appeal funds will be used to strengthen the capacity of the Lebanese Red Cross, in close coordination with the ICRC, to build up the resources and systems essential both for the relief and recovery phases of this operation. According to official sources, an estimated 160,000 people have fled into Syria from Lebanon. The Syrian Arab Red Crescent Society (SARCS) has been assisting tens of thousands of evacuees and is currently providing health services, food, hygiene articles, relief items, health care and psychosocial support to some 22,000 people in shelters and to more than 31,000 people living with host families. Appeal funds will be used to support the continued delivery of vital relief goods and services to evacuees and host families. The Red Cross on Cyprus has been providing evacuees arriving in Larnaca port and airport with refreshments, first aid, medical care and support. Provision is made in the appeal to strengthen the capacity of the Red Cross with additional, temporary staff and to replenish their emergency stocks. The ICRC is providing overall leadership in and around the Lebanon crisis. On 28 July, the ICRC launched a revised emergency appeal for 100 million Swiss francs. For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact: Marie-Françoise Borel, Information Officer Tel: + 41 22 730 4346 / + 41 79 217 3345 Media Service duty phone Tel: + 41 79 416 3881 The Geneva-based International Federation promotes the humanitarian activities of 185 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies among vulnerable people. By coordinating international disaster relief and encouraging development support, it seeks to prevent and alleviate human suffering. The Federation, National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together, constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. © International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies |
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