Cologne/Beirut. The situation for people in Lebanon continues to worsen after the recent escalation with massive attacks in the south and east of Lebanon and especially in the Beirut southern suburbs: “Many people had to flee quickly and have only been able to take the essentials with them. According to government figures, around one million people in Lebanon are now internally displaced. The Lebanese government is talking about the largest number of internally displaced persons in an extremely limited period of time in the country's history. People are queuing up outside the Order’s community health centers. The internally displaced communities currently lack everything – from accommodation to water, food, and hygiene supplies,” reports Lisa Kramer, country coordinator in Lebanon, who was working on the ground until a few days ago.
Together with the local partner organization Order of Malta Lebanon, Malteser International is expanding its aid for the internally displaced in Lebanon: “Our colleagues in Lebanon are working far beyond the usual level to bring help to the affected people, expanding our medical aid, distributing hot meals and organizing the procurement of much needed relief supplies,” says Kramer. At the same time, Malteser International is preparing humanitarian aid for further displaced population movements in the region.
Since 2012, Malteser International has been working with the Order of Malta Lebanon to support people in need in Lebanon. Malteser International focuses on mobile and stationary healthcare (four Mobile Medical Units and eleven Community Healthcare Centers of the Order of Malta Lebanon across the country) as well as improving the nutritional situation through the operation of agricultural centers.
Malteser International (MI) works as an international humanitarian aid organization. It is an aid organization of the Catholic Order of Malta and particularly fulfills the order's mission of "helping those in need". The mission is to improve the health and living conditions of suffering and displaced people worldwide. The organization provides aid to people in need in over 140 projects in 37 countries, regardless of religion, political conviction, origin or gender. Christian values and the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence form the basis of its work. For further information please visit: www.malteser-international.org/en
Attention editorial offices:
Photos are available for download here.
Lisa Kramer, Malteser International's country coordinator for Lebanon, is available for interviews and sound bites.
Media contact: +49 (0)221 9822-7180, kathrin.muenker(at)malteser-international.org
The people in Lebanon are in urgent need of donations.
Malteser Hilfsdienst e. V.
IBAN: DE10 3706 0120 1201 2000 12
S.W.I.F.T.: GENODED 1PA7
Keyword: “Lebanon”
