HUMANITARIAN EMERGENCY
IN PALESTINE
Emergency Alert - Updated 11/06
You can help
our local partners
provide needed assistance.
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Background:
In June, fighting between Israel and Hamas destroyed homes, businesses, properties and agricultural land in the Gaza Strip. The ongoing security situation denies freedom of movement for medical, educational, family or business reasons. (ACT)
This has compounded the problems already faced by people in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, who have suffered from the withholding of funds from the Palestinian Authority after the Hamas victory in the Palestinian elections last January, increasing the number of people dependent on humanitarian assistance.
The lack of funds has also aversely affected the Lutheran World Federation’s Augusta Victoria Hospital, located in Jerusalem. This hospital provides healthcare services to Palestinians through a contract with the Palestinian Authority. The blockage of funds is effectively jeopardizing the lives of thousands of patients who depend on Augusta Victoria for emergency care as well as specialized services such as kidney dialysis and cancer treatment.
| LWR AND PARTNERS ARE HELPING |
LWR is responding through an initial $75,000 contribution to the global aid alliance Action by Churches Together (ACT) to provide funding to LWF-AVH for:
- 6060 radiation treatments, 420 chemotherapy treatments and ongoing psychosocial care for cancer patients
- 1794 sessions of kidney dialysis, including pediatric dialysis for 26 children
- 480 head-and-neck surgeries for special needs patients
- Safe transportation for staff and patients by a hospital-run bus system
LWR has also given $78,000 to ACT to provide the following to affected civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank:
- supplementary food support for more than 12,000 families
- emergency health services for over 75,000 people
- emergency educational support for vocational students and schoolchildren
- services encouraging self-reliance and the development of small businesses
- rehabilitation of agricultural land
- feeding of children in schools
The best way to assist people caught in an emergency is to give cash so that our partner staff on the ground can be most effective.
To contribute online, click below. You will be given the opportunity to choose“Middle East Crisis” for your contribution.
Your gift will be used for the “Middle East Crisis” until needs there are met. After that, further gifts will be used to help LWR respond where the need is greatest. Please also consider making an unrestricted donation which will enable LWR to respond quickly to the next emergency.
During regular business hours, Monday through Friday, you may also call 1-800-LWR-LWR-2, or mail a check or money order to:
Lutheran World Relief -
Middle East Crisis
P.O. Box 17061
Baltimore, MD 21298-9832
MEDIA CONTACT: Emily Sollie, 410-230-2802, esollie@lwr.org
Lutheran World Relief is a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), individuals and parish groups in international relief, development, advocacy and social responsibility. LWR is a member of Action by Churches Together.
