As reports emerge of a humanitarian crisis developing in Lebanon, Christian organisations are stepping up to meet the needs of thousands fleeing from airstrikes.
The Israeli Defence Force ordered citizens in the south of the country to evacuate their homes, as troops strike Iran-backed Hezbollah militants who have fired missiles into Israel.
At least 52 people have been killed in strikes on Monday, according to Lebanon’s disaster management.
World Vision, the Christian international children’s charity, estimates that nearly 40,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon in the past 24 hours.
Its teams have provided hot meals to more than 2,000 people, and are continuing to provide pastoral support.
Eleanor Monbiot, Middle East regional leader, told Premier Christian News: “We're scaling up really quickly with life saving food, shelter, and non-food items in Lebanon. We continue to respond in Syria, in the West Bank, in Iraq, in Jordan, and we've also got in place, across five countries, a plan for any refugees that come out of Iran and how we will support them in life saving activities.”
“The other area that World Vision is very committed to is mental health and psychosocial support. We know the profound effect that conflict has on children, and if we do not engage immediately, this can lead to life-altering mental health conditions,” she added.
Before the current escalation, the charity believed that 110 million children in the region lived in the context of violence. Around 45 million were in life-threatening conditions, with 30 million unable to attend school.
Karagheusian Medical Centre, in northern Beirut, has been responding with primary healthcare services and practical support to the local community, as well those who have been displaced.
It is supported by Embrace the Middle East, as part of a network of organisations working to represent Christian hope and support in the country, which has also suffered economic hardship and political paralysis.
Serop Ohanian, centre director, told Premier Christian News that the country was facing a “catastrophic” situation. He described people “panicking” and looking to healthcare staff for reassurance, particularly pregnant mothers.
The centre usually supports 700 people a day, but has seen an “influx” of people since the outbreak of the conflict. Staff have been providing drinking water and power, with Ohanian leading operations from London, unable to fly back to Lebanon after visiting the UK for events.
He said: “The only thing that we have that we can hold on to is our faith. Everything around us is changing, and it is changing so fast so we do not have all the answers. We don't know what will happen. What keeps us standing is our faith, the promises that we know from the Bible. God is faithful, and he keeps his promises.”