Humanitarian crisis in Lebanon – statement by Y Care International

24 July 2006

Y Care International, the international relief and development agency of the YMCA in the UK and Ireland, has pledged financial support to its partner, the YMCA of Lebanon, as it works to provide medical care, basic supplies and food to people affected by the humanitarian crisis brought on by Israeli military strikes.

Y Care International is also calling on international donors not to overlook local NGOs, like the YMCA, which are in an ideal position to provide timely relief to the affected population.

YMCA Lebanon's relief work

In the midst of a humanitarian crisis brought on by Israeli military strikes, Lebanon’s displaced population is facing severe health problems and needs urgent access to medical care and treatment. Catastrophic damage to infrastructure has made delivering medical and basic supplies extremely difficult. Many cities in the south of the country are without water or electricity and the aerial attacks on land and homes have resulted in the displacement of an estimated 500,000 civilians. There are worsening shortages of all supplies including food staples, medication and basic hygiene supplies.

The YMCA of Lebanon, which has been working in the country since 1890, is putting its extensive experience in medical assistance and dispensing medication and basic supplies, gained during and since the civil war, to use to help those most in need.

The YMCA’s Medical Assistance Programme (MAP) focuses on assisting the extremely poor, and displaced people. In 2005, the YMCA helped over 100,000 patients to be treated, free of charge, through a network it co-ordinates of over 400 decentralised medical dispensaries and clinics, run by local NGOs. The programme’s effectiveness has earnt the YMCA the recognition of the medical community, NGOs and the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health.

The YMCA is now in close contact with this network and is monitoring the humanitarian situation closely to identify areas most in need of help. It has also established new centres in government hospitals in Marjeyoun, Nabatiye, Tripoli, Tyre and Zahle, and is ready to create additional centres should it need to.

The YMCA is appealing to international governmental and non-governmental agencies for the medical and basic supplies and financial support that will enable it to help more people affected by the conflict. There is a great danger that medical supplies will run out, but the YMCA is ready to extend its medical assistance programme to more casualties of the attacks, and its network of medical dispensaries are in place to give vital relief to those most in need.

Y Care International’s support for YMCA of Lebanon’s relief work

Y Care International is donating an initial £10,000 to the YMCA of Lebanon to support its relief work with people affected by the humanitarian crisis brought on by military strikes.

While multilateral aid agencies make preparations for a co-ordinated response and endeavour to evacuate nonessential staff from Lebanon, the YMCA is already working with the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health and a network of medical clinics and dispensaries to give essential medical help, food and basic supplies to those in need.

Y Care International calls on international donors not to neglect support for local NGOs in Lebanon

The UK Government’s Department for International Development has announced it will contribute an initial £2m for immediate relief efforts in Lebanon, through the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO) and other international humanitarian aid agencies.

Y Care International recognises the importance of a multilateral, co-ordinated aid effort, but is calling on DFID and other donors to recognise that local NGOs on the ground have an essential role to play in providing relief to people displaced or injured in the conflict and are ideally placed to meet people’s needs in the early stages of a crisis.

Local NGOs, like the YMCA of Lebanon, are carrying out life-saving work with communities affected by the conflict now, and they desperately need the support of the international community.