Number of people in need in Middle East at least doubled
Because of the recent escalation in Lebanon, the number of people in need has at least doubled. Millions of people in Gaza, Israel, Lebanon, Syria and the West Bank depend on aid organizations like the Red Cross for food, water, shelter and medical care.
In Gaza, Israel and now Lebanon, people daily fear bombings. They flee in hopes of finding a safe place. The duration of the conflict is uncertain, but the consequences are already enormous.
Relief efforts in Lebanon are now also booming. Red Cross ambulances transport and treat victims and the wounded day and night. The Red Cross provides medical, initial and psychosocial assistance to IDPs. They provide food, water and blankets, and have built water tanks and toilets at the border.
As the conflict escalates, Gaza receives less attention. On a daily basis, persistent bombing continues to kill dozens, including women and children. There are also still far too few relief supplies arriving to provide basic needs for the more than two million residents.
Several Red Cross organizations including the Palestinian Red Crescent, the Lebanese Red Cross, the Jordanian National Red Crescent, the Egyptian Red Crescent, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, the Israeli Magen David Adom, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC), are trying to help and assist victims and displaced persons to the best of their ability.
Belgian Red Cross-Flanders stresses that the protection of civilians and aid workers is essential to continue humanitarian assistance. The organization remains committed to helping as many people as possible, but stresses that the only real solution is for the violence to stop.
Thus, helping Belgian Red Cross-Flanders
Belgian Red Cross-Flanders has already donated 200,000 euros to the International Red Cross (ICRC) thanks to donations from citizens - for which our sincere thanks - to provide assistance to victims and internally displaced persons in the conflict zone.
Via Restoring Family Links, a service provided by Belgian Red Cross-Flanders, people who have lost contact with friends or family in the conflict zone can seek support to restore contact. Those wishing to use this can contact the service by calling 015 44 35 22 (Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.) or email rfl@rodekruis.be.
This is how you can help
Those who want to support the victims of this conflict can do so by transferring a donation to account number BE53 0000 0000 5353 stating 'Conflict Middle East'. Every donation helps to help people on the ground.