Lebanon has witnessed one of the most aggressive attacks since 1996. Thousands of refugees moved from south Lebanon and the southern suburb of Beirut towards more safe regions in the country. The humanitarian conditions are very hard as there is a lack of medicine, food, clothes, and home utilities. Many Emergency relief centers have been established through out the country to cope with the increase in the number of displaced refugees.

Based on the idea of inter-faith cooperation and 'dialogue-in-action' the Forum for Development Culture and Dialogue is working in cooperation grassroots organizations, both Christian and Muslim, who are active mainly in schools and centers where displaced individuals and families are located, helping them with relief materials, financially, logistically and coordinating efforts between the different volunteers and NGOs.

FDCD has indicated in its initial Appeal that it will look to supply food packages, medicine for children and the elderly, mattresses, as well as hygiene kits. Having gone into the centers for the displaced, FDCD is constantly updating its response and being flexible with the needs in the different centers. This is reflected in the summary of the first 10 days of action below.

The displaced/refugees are scattered in different regions which are relatively far and disconnected from each other due to the fact of Israel’s bombardment of primary infrastructure, bridges and highways. The FDCD has focused its work on three regions in its relief aid which are Beirut, Aley, and Batroun.

. First: Beirut:

Raas al Nabeh, Mseitbeh, Basta, Mazraa, and Hamra. The total beneficiaries in this region amounted to 125 families and 8837 refugees scattered in 27 public schools and public buildings. Until now FDCD has supplied: - 30 first aid kits (cotton plaster, oxygen, Crum, compress band aid - diff sizes, and women's hygiene materials) -1200 candles -Women underwear 450 cotton - Eleven ovens for cooking (two eyes) - Recreational materials for children (puzzles+ footballs+ chess+ balling) The second step is to supply those families and refugees with milk for children, detergents and medicine for sick people. Elderly refugees are having some problems in finding certain rare medicines for heart problems and so forth. FDCD is trying to help in supplying these medicines as much as possible.

Second: Al hadath, Kfarshima, Aschrafeih

There has been survey of the needs. In Achrafieh there are 6300 people, 1400 families, distributed at 9 schools. In Kfarchima and Hadath there are 95 families. FDCD is currently involved in several assessments to decide where it is best to invest FDCD energy and relief funds and materials. However, initial emergency funds have been disbursed for immediate needs such as food kits.

Third: Homs – Syria

It has come to the knowledge of FDCD that there are nearly 200 displaced families seeking refuge in Homs, Syria particularly in the Public University in Homs, as well as in private homes and even on the streets of the city. Rev. Dr. Riad Jarjour in a visit to that city that began on July 23 witnessed the dismal conditions in which those Lebanese individuals and families currently live. These 20000 (twenty thousand) displaced have mainly come from Hermel, Beqa'a, the South, as well as al-Dahiya (the southern suburb of Beirut). In a visit to the student hostel in the public university which houses nearly 1700 individuals, FDCD made an onsite relief donation of 10 refrigerators for cold water, and following a coordination meeting with the Red Crescent FDCD proposed to supply baby milk to the needy there.

Fourth: Iqlim Al kharoub

A needs assessment has been conducted in Iqlim Al kharoub. FDCD has supplied the refugees there with ovens, Hygiene kits, diapers, and matrices.