SILVER SPRING, MD (December 7, 2023) – The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is mobilizing resources as the humanitarian crisis intensifies in the wake of the recent Hamas-Israeli conflict.
Hostilities in Gaza and clashes in southern Lebanon have led to loss of life, widespread destruction of homes and schools, and the displacement of over 55,000 people, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Families and children throughout the region are in desperate need of emergency aid.
ADRA’s Response
ADRA’s country office in Lebanon is at the forefront of the relief efforts. Humanitarian response personnel on the ground have been actively monitoring the situation to coordinate and distribute life-saving supplies.
“Humanitarian access has been constrained in this region due to security concerns, travel restrictions, and a shortage of electricity and water. As winter approaches, thousands of children are affected and out of school, and families are homeless and in need of shelter,” shares Kelly Dowling, ADRA’s emergency response program manager. “We recognize the gravity of the situation and are committed to providing timely and effective assistance to the affected communities, as well as ensuring that aid reaches the families and communities in the greatest need.”
To identify and address relief shortages, ADRA is leveraging alliances with reputable partners such as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees’ Food Security and Agricultural Sector, and the Lebanese organization Imam Sadr Foundation (ISF). Presently, the emphasis is on shelters rather than individual households, along with delivering hot meals and hygiene kits. The global organization is refocusing its efforts on food assistance. ADRA also intends to direct efforts toward education programs for youngsters whose schools have been closed and whose families have been displaced. The global humanitarian agency has been serving communities and responding to emergencies in Lebanon since 2014.
The Need for Global Support
ADRA needs community and donor support to meet the urgent demand for humanitarian assistance resulting from the Hamas-Israeli conflict and other catastrophes throughout the world. Support for ADRA’s relief missions is critical for ensuring that aid reaches vulnerable communities affected by crises.
Visit ADRA.org/angels this holiday season and become an ADRA Angel. Support ADRA’s global humanitarian emergency fund that benefits families in desperate need in Lebanon and around the world.
