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Middle
East-focused NGO BibleLands reports on refugees in the
Bekaa Valley and Beirut.
The UK-based
charity, which works with disadvantaged people throughout the
Middle East and acts as a vehicle for the sponsorship of 1563
school children in Lebanon, has received reports that two of
the projects which it funds are struggling to support refugees
fleeing from the bombing.
At the Schneller
School in the Bekaa Valley the first 22 people arrived on
Sunday 16 July, with hundreds more expected over the next few
days. The school’s Director, The Rev. Dr Riad Kassis, reports:
“Our fear is that food, fuel, medicines and other similar
needs will become scarce as the sea, land and air blockade
continues. For the last sixteen years we have been involved in
peace and tolerance education with hundreds of students and
families who belong to various religious backgrounds. Now we
experience again the meaning of hatred and war. It is a
terrible situation.”
In Beirut
itself a BibleLands-supported special needs facility
has reported that they are now providing
emergency relief to 44 homeless refugees, 20 of whom are
children. The project’s Director states “we are currently
enduring an economic blockade which will undoubtedly bleed the
civilian population as the stocks of food and medicine run
short in the coming days.”
The Charity also
supports two medical facilities in Gaza, which are facing the
burden of power and water shortages as well as dwindling
supplies of essential drugs. All communication has broken down
and BibleLands’ staff are increasingly concerned for
their welfare.
-ENDS-
Media Enquiries:
Nigel Edward-Few
BibleLands
info@biblelands.org.uk
Tel: 01494
897959 (available both during and outside office hours)
AVAILABLE FOR
INTERVIEW
Direct
interviews with projects concerned may be possible via
BibleLands
NOTES TO
EDITORS:
BibleLands
Founded by the
Rev Cuthbert Young in 1854 to support the work of American
missionaries serving a distressed and vulnerable Armenian
population, BibleLands is a non-denominational
Christian charity that now works in partnership with some 50
local Christian-led projects in the lands of the Bible –
primarily Israel and the Occupied Territories, Egypt and
Lebanon, in the fields of Education; Social Care; Special
Needs; Medical Care; Vocational and Adult Training; Support
and Care of Refugees.
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