CRISIS IN
THE MIDDLE EAST
April, 2002

The current Israeli invasion of the West Bank has cut off whole towns and villages. Hundreds of thousands of people are without adequate food, water, electricity and basic services. There has been widespread destruction of buildings and infrastructure, soldiers have prevented ambulances from reaching casualties, and health services have collapsed. For example, an LWR partner organization based in East Jerusalem, the YMCA, reported that staff in the occupied territories have been trapped in their homes-- including experts in physical rehabilitation and trauma counseling whose work is supported by LWR.

LWR IS HELPING

In recent months LWR has provided some $800,000 worth of aid for medical, relief, rehabilitation and vocational programs among Palestinians, including:

Basic Food Supplies and Commodities - (worth $50 per family) to 4,000 families in Gaza and 3,000 families in the West Bank.

Short-term job opportunities - for 162 individuals in Gaza and the West Bank.

Food - As funding permits 10,000 families are receiving food packages from a local partner organization of LWR. The parcels go to families whose homes are destroyed or who are cut off from their jobs or farms. The project costs $550,000.

Medical Supplies - At Augusta Victoria Hospital in East Jerusalem medical supplies are needed for 13 new dialysis patients. The new patients-a 40-percent increase over normal capacity for the dialysis unit-have reached Jerusalem with great difficulty from besieged towns like Nablus in the West Bank.

Medical Care - Augusta Victoria is seeking $770,000 for emergency care in East Jerusalem and primary care at village clinics in the West Bank. For months now, most sick and wounded Palestinians have not been able to reach the refugee hospital in Jerusalem.

YOU CAN HELP

When disaster strikes, in addition to prayer, the greatest immediate need is cash so that our local partners can quickly and efficiently provide needed assistance.

To contribute to a recovery effort, you may also call 1-800-LWR-LWR2, or mail a check or money order to:

Lutheran World Relief - Middle East Crisis
PO Box 17061
Baltimore, MD 21298-9832

Please also consider making an unrestricted donation which will enable LWR to respond quickly to the next emergency.