The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), is delivering humanitarian aid to assist communities impacted by the hostilities in the Middle East.  Humanitarian intervention has become more urgent after a series of heavy airstrikes across various parts of the country initiated on September 21. 

Many towns, villages, and convoys that were evacuating civilians from the area were affected by the airstrikes. The turmoil has left more than 600 dead, approximately 2,000 injured, including hundreds of children and women, and at least 500,000 citizens internally displaced, according to Lebanon’s Foreign Minister reports. All schools and universities in the country are closed with some serving as shelters for those seeking protection. More than 169 collective shelters have been opened across Lebanon.

The scale of the crisis is growing and so is the need for your support. Several days ago, ADRA rescued a 60-year-old woman trapped in her apartment with a broken hip and arm. Fighting through the debris, our team helped her get the medical attention she desperately required. 

“ADRA’s country office in Lebanon has been focusing on assisting displaced households impacted by the conflict along the southern border.  Our goal is to give access to a diverse nutritious food supply that contributes to people’s well-being. The initial response efforts will provide food assistance through hot meals to internally displaced people (IDPs) in two shelters. In the Dekwena area of Mt Lebanon, ADRA is organizing a daily distribution of hot meals for lunch, along with water, vegetables, and fruit,” says Kelly Dowling, emergency response program manager for ADRA International. “Please continue to pray for Lebanon, those who are hurting, and our ADRA team as we work to relieve the suffering of those enduring terrible loss and hardship.”

Picture: ADRA Lebanon staff bringing meals to a collective shelter. (c) ADRA Lebanon.

ADRA provides meals in collective shelters

The humanitarian agency is offering breakfast at collective shelters and have formed alliances with local restaurants in Aarsal to provide hot meals, which are being delivered by ADRA field office staff. ADRA is also collaborating with the local government, shelters, and other non-profit groups to distribute the food.

ADRA is strategically working with the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Lebanon, and Middle East University, to mobilize a team of volunteers to support aid efforts.

Meet a Mother hit by the crisis

We help people in need, people like Osh Al Hilal, a Syrian refugee in Lebanon, a mother who sleeps with her children outside under the trees every night, too scared to stay in a tent with them while bombs shake their surroundings. When the bombing hit the area near the municipality office, the children begged Osha to flee. But there is nowhere to go, they are trapped here and cannot escape the violence. As the days go by, food becomes scarce and extremely expensive. Osha’s hope for a secure future is fading with each passing day. In a world divided by conflict, families like Oshina are dependent on the help of others. But even in the darkest moments, ADRA stays by their side, providing care and compassion.

The Wedding must wait

Helping those in need is always the first priority for ADRA, and in the event of unexpected events, it is necessary to act immediately, even at the cost of personal sacrifices. And this is exactly what our colleague Amer Mohei Eddine, who was a field worker for ADRA Lebanon for 3 years and led projects throughout the Bekaa Valley, acted. After completing his last project, he was preparing for a major life event – a long-awaited wedding that was scheduled to take place on September 29, 2024. However, as the situation in the country was deteriorating rapidly due to the conflict in the south, Amer decided to postpone his wedding. Instead, together with his fiancée and the ADRA team in Bekaa Amer, he works tirelessly to support displaced communities affected by the crisis. It is through the commitment of workers like Amer that we find meaning and hope in our humanitarian mission.

Support and Prayer Request

In this moment of immense need, we are asking you to stand with ADRA as we continue our life-saving emergency response and preparedness work in war-torn Lebanon and so many other places around the world.

In addition to your contribution, we ask for your prayers. The situation in Lebanon and the surrounding area is bleak, but together we can give hope to those who are suffering. Thank you for being a faithful partner with ADRA.

Header Picture (c) Fani Bachvarova, view over Beirut during the ADRA Emergency Response Training in Beirut, Lebanon.

Other pictures: (c) ADRA Lebanon