Israel began withdrawing troops from southern Lebanon on the second day of the U.N.-imposed cease-fire as aid groups hoped for greater access to deliver needed relief to the returning Lebanese.
The world watched with some anxiety on Tuesday as the cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah continued to hold despite at least six Hezbollah militiamen killed by Israeli troops on Monday and at least 10 rockets fired by the guerilla group.Aid groups, which had demanded safe humanitarian corridors during the conflict, hope the ceasefire will be permanent and allow local partners to gain improved access to the worst affected communities in southern Lebanon.
“We badly need to provide humanitarian aid to those people who will be returning home. They have nothing,” said Caritas Lebanon director Georges Khoury, according to Catholic Agency for Overseas Development on Monday.
“Our priorities now are to supply them with food rations and emergency supplies until they’re re-established.”
Hours after the truce, Lebanese civilians began to pour back into the areas and villages that the war had forced them to abandon. More refugees are expected to return from Syria, Cyprus and other areas.
The monthlong conflict left nearly 950 people dead – 791 in Lebanon and 155 Israeli, according to official counts reported by The Associated Press. Moreover, some 1 million Lebanese, or a quarter of the country’s population, have been displaced.
Other Christian groups such as World Vision International (WVI) and Operation Blessing International (OBI) are providing medical assistance in addition to food and other needed items.WVI flew in 2.5 metric tons of medical supplies to Beirut on Friday to assist 25,000 people including technical equipment, high energy biscuits for children, and medical supplies such as antibiotics and analgesics.
Last week, OBI reported many schools and refugee camps have no available shower facilities or hygiene products, leading to the need for critical medical care. OBI and partners distributed 3,000 hygiene packs containing items such as soap, shampoo, toothbrushes and toothpastes. The pack served some 18,000 people.
Moreover, OBI along with other groups distributed food, mattresses, meals, toys and medical supplies to around 900 to 1,000 families.
However, aid groups have noted that despite greater access to roads after the truce, many roads and key bridges have been destroyed during the war, seriously hindering distribution efforts.
“The ceasefire must hold. Too many people have been killed or injured already,” said Khoury while in Beirut. “We have to wait and see what happens next. At the moment, it does not feel like a ceasefire but just a lull in the fighting.”
Michelle Vu
Christian Today Correspondent
