As airstrikes continue to pound southern Lebanon, adding one more catastrophe to the avalanche of tragedies that have pushed its people to the limits of human endurance, Canadian churches and humanitarian organizations are asking Canadians to help provide emergency relief to millions fleeing their homes in desperation.
Several Canadian Catholic organizations and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops have issued an urgent appeal for prayers and donations to support those affected by the violence. The initiative is being led by the CCCB and Aid to the Church in Need Canada (ACN), Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA) Canada, and Development and Peace – Caritas Canada (DPCC).
Plunging into the Israel-Hamas war in support of its ally Hamas, Hezbollah has attacked Israel with rockets fired from Lebanon since the days following the Hamas attack that precipitated the latest war. Israel has retaliated, and in recent weeks has upped its response with a barrage of airstrikes powerful enough to penetrate deep into Lebanon’s territory while also strategically targeting Hezbollah’s leaders.
According to available estimates, over 1.2 million people in Lebanon have been displaced as a result, with that number continuing to grow.
Bishop William T. McGrattan, president of the CCCB, called for Canadian Catholics to to “renew our prayers for peace in the Middle East, as urged by Pope Francis, and do whatever we can to help the people who are affected by this recent escalation in violence.”
He urged Canadians to donate to ACN Canada, CNEWA Canada, or DPCC, to ensure that contributions are used to provide relief through local agencies in Lebanon.
Directors of the organizations jointly appealed for support, saying, “Your donations and prayers will be a great comfort to the shaken population.”
Marielle Boutros, ACN’s project coordinator for Lebanon, said immediate needs of the displaced include food, sanitary products, mattresses, and blankets heading into the winter. “People are now living in church halls,” she said, adding she hopes the conflict doesn’t last into the colder months.
Caritas Lebanon, in partnership with Development and Peace – Caritas Canada, is one of the humanitarian organizations working to help as many of these people as possible, in addition to supporting families who are hosting relatives and friends, despite their own impoverished circumstances. Thousands of families are fleeing their homes as the conflict intensifies in southern Lebanon, said the agency, which is providing essential services such as shelter, food, medical care, and psychological support.
Religious sisters in Lebanon, particularly those from the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, have also suffered. Sister Maya Beiano, director of a school run by her congregation, said, “Missiles are hitting just next to us, the convent is shaking, and windows are breaking.”
The directors of the involved organizations have outlined that funds will be used for immediate needs such as food, medical supplies, and shelter, as well as for long-term recovery efforts, including reconstruction and psychological support. They also echoed Pope Francis’s call for a ceasefire and urged prayers for an end to the violence in Lebanon and throughout the Middle East.
“Lebanon is going through a nightmarish existence, with bombs raining down on us every day,” Mazen Mouwasser, head of communications of Caritas Lebanon, told The Catholic Register from Beirut. “Even when there is a lull in the bombing, people are terrified that it’s a sign of even worse to come.”
He added that it is not a war between two countries but between a country and an organization, Hezbollah, and that people in Lebanon live in fear their country could become “the next Gaza,” which has been devastated by the Israeli response to the Gaza-based Hamas.
“We are distributing over 50,000 hot meals every day, as well as food packages, and renovating schools and other buildings to adapt to the needs of people sheltering there,” Mouwasser continued. “For example, schools don’t have shower facilities, and we are installing those, and also providing medicines, mattresses, and blankets to those who’ve had to run for their lives, leaving all their possessions behind.”
He pointed out that with the approach of winter and no peace in sight, heating would become an urgent need.
“It’s heartbreaking when a 60-year-old woman cries because she can’t put bread on the table,” Mouwasser said. “Also, when a child asks if he can go back to his house and retrieve his toys, not knowing that his house has been bombed and he can never return.”
Where to Donate
Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), a pontifical charity, has launched an emergency fundraiser for Lebanon, with a goal of raising $1.5 million.
“We need the help of our Canadian supporters,” said Marie-Claude Lalonde, national director of ACN Canada. “Our current international emergency campaign underlines the dire situation of the Lebanese people, that has unfortunately, continued to deteriorate since Sept. 23 (when Israel launched more than 650 attacks on Hezbollah targets across Lebanon). It’s already been two weeks since we launched an appeal, and the number of people displaced by the war is increasing every day.”
acn-canada.org/attacks-on-lebanon-affecting-everyone/?form=Lebanon
1-800-585-6333 ext. 228
CNEWA (Catholic Near Eastern Welfare Association) has announced a special fundraising campaign for Lebanon. The organization has already released $100,000 to buy bedding, food, drinking water, nursing formula, and medicines. The Catholic and Orthodox Churches have opened their premises, including churches and schools, to all those fleeing the hardest-hit areas, regardless of their religion or ethnicity.
“Canadians are always generous with their gifts for people in need. At Thanksgiving, which we celebrated recently, we were reminded of all the blessings we have in Canada. Let’s help our sisters and brothers in Lebanon in their hour of need,” said Adriana Bara, CNEWA Canada’s national director.
cnewa.org/ca
1-866-322-4441
Development and Peace – Caritas Canada has launched an emergency fund to help Caritas Lebanon respond to the overwhelming need in Lebanon. Luke Stocking, Development and Peace – Caritas Canada’s interim executive director, said: “Whenever there is a crisis, Caritas Lebanon and our other partners have been there for the Lebanese people. Now more than ever, it’s time for us to stand with them. Every dollar you give ensures that more lives will be saved, and more comfort will be brought to the people. Remember too, that until Nov. 3, the government of Canada will double your donation.”
devp.org/en
1-888-234-8533
A Demand for Action (ADFA), a finalist for the 2024 Global Good Award for timely and innovative humanitarian response, has a strategy in place to facilitate international donations and ensure food reaches the needy despite the chaotic circumstances.
“The situation is changing by the hour, and rather than risk uncertainty about whether shipments will reach those in need, we have shifted the direction of our operations in Lebanon,” its leader Nuri Kino said. “If a charity, church or business in Canada (or any other country) wants to donate to Lebanon, we can connect them with food distributors in Europe and the U.S. who have stocks in Lebanon, from whom they can purchase food. Our partners on the ground will handle the distribution.”
Contact ADFA by email at info@ademandforaction.com.
With Canadian Catholic News files
