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Relief for Palestinian Refugees from the Nahr al-Bared Refugee Camp in Lebanon
Background
Fighting, that began in May 2007, left approximately 30,000 of Nahr al-Bared’s residents homeless. UNICEF estimated that about half of them were children.
 
Mercy-USA's Response
Mercy-USA for Aid and Development’s office and staff in Lebanon responded to the desperate needs of these children and their families.
1) From August to October 2007, Mercy-USA distributed 9,000 floor mats to all displaced Nahr Al-Bared families (approximately 22,000 persons) living in the Beddawi Camp. These mats, which are especially prized during the summer months, provide a safe, clean sitting area for four to five people. In addition, two to three persons can sleep on them. The mats, which are used both indoors and outdoors, are easy to clean and carry.
 
2) During June 2007, M-USA distributed drinking water, floor mats and hygiene packages to 740 displaced Nahr Al-Bared families (about 3,400 persons) sheltered in the Beddawi Camp. The hygiene packages provided to these families consisted of towels, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, detergent, disinfectant and other hygiene items. Clinics in the camp received anti-lice spray.
Mercy-USA’s relief workers provided the drinking water, floor mats and hygiene packages to 500 families housed in four schools (Al-Nasreh, Majdal, Nahr Al-Ardon and Kawakab) run by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and also to 240 displaced families who were living with host families in Beddawi Camp .
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Dedicated to alleviating human suffering and supporting individuals and their communities in their efforts to become more self-sufficient, Mercy-USA for Aid
and Development has had an office and programs in Lebanon since 2006. Mercy-USA is also a registered PVO (Private Voluntary Organization) with the
United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC),
and is a member of the American Council for Voluntary International Action (InterAction).
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