The session has started. Please join us with your questions. We apologize beforehand for not being able to answer all your questions due to time limitations.
Answer
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Name
Akram
- Egypt
Profession
Question
Dear Mr. Zaazaa
Allow me to salute you for the fine efforts you are doing.
Here in Egypt many of us feel absolutely paralyzed, extremely angry at our own governments.
My question is, how can we, as civil activists in our own countries, contribute to your work?
Is there a way we can enter Beirut and give a helping hand on the ground?
Answer
First of all, thank you for your support. we are heartened by your will to help.
What you can do is, actually, contribute by sending donations in cash or in-kind.
Those of you who cannot do so or feel they need to do more, can actually take part of or organize soldiarity campaigns in your home country.
We already have a Cairo correspondent in Egypt you can contact and we need correspondents everywhere possible.
For more information about the organization, visit: www.mowatinun.blogspot.com
Name
Rick
- United States
Profession
Question
Hello,
I'm an American and I don't understand the situation today about Lebanon. I live a good life and feel this isssue is not my issue. I see it on TV and then turn the channel to watch some comedy.
What can a person who is shallow and ignorant like me do to help these people in Lebanon.
Thanks
Answer
The situation in Lebanon is a humanitarian crisis before it is anything else.
What we care about right now is helping those who are suffering. We do not want to address the political context apart from the true human suffering.
What you can do is actually spread the word. The aggression is illegal and there are many facts that are not available for the people in the West.
You can seek the facts if you give it more attention, especially when fellow innocent humans are killed, injured, and displaced.
Israel is using illegal weapons and is inflicting damage to civilians.
I do not want to address any political arguments, i just want to give you facts and let you do the thinking for youself.
What is most important is to stop the suffering and help those in need.
Name
Karen
- United Kingdom
Profession
Question
Dear Sir,
Some British media is raising serious concerns over the high percentage of children who fell victims in this war, either dead, injured, or psychologically traumatized.
Can you please elaborate on this, based on what you experience firsthand in your field work?
Answer
I am a volunteer in a group called Mowatinun. It is one group among others currently working.
We have around 900,000 displaced people. They are dispersed over the areas which are not being targetted.
As a group, we are providing the displaced families with their basic needs. We send them food, provide them with shelter wherever possible and we give them health care, sanitization, and provide them some particular needs like helping them find their lost relatives and so on.
As for the children, it is true. According to preliminary statistics, the children constitute around 40% of the displaced. They are in a disastrous condition. Most are traumatized and live under highly unhealthy conditions.
They need psychological help besides the basics that they seriously lack.
First time I stepped into a shelter, I found a seven-month-infant sleeping in a back-pack!
Most of them suffer from diseases and the situation will soon become extremely out of hand.
Some of the children I met have been exposed to scenes of bombing and dead bodies and have been under shock. Most of them have nervous breakdowns and are suffering from health repercussions.
Name
Tim
- United States
Profession
Question
How is the small number of volunteers that you have able to meet the demands of this huge number of displaced people in Beirut?
Answer
Trust me...It is hard!!
We work 24/7 and most of us will soon need help ourselves!
We are a group of 60 people, a fellow group is around 80.
But the thing is that a lot of volunteers have been helping. The problem is that we sometimes have enough volunteers in certain places and none in others.
We need to be more organized. The number is not a BIG problem.
More volunteers would help but there is no organization that can put them to productive action.
Name
Cecille
-
Profession
Question
Salams Nadim,
I have two questions:
1. Is it true that many people find refuge only in the streets and in parks? How are you helping them? And how will they cope with winter?
2. Are the schools all closed now? I read and saw children and refugees occupying the schools. How are the schools operating in the midst of all of this?
Our hearts and minds are with you all.
Answer
Thank you.
First, it is true that some people reside in underground garages. In fact, right facing our headquarters, there is a public park that hosts some 700 people! They sleep in open air.
We provide them with food and have urged the government to install public showers and bathrooms.
We cook for them because they cannot do it themselves, and they have become increasingly distressed and violent. They cannot continue to live like this. But, that is all we can do unfortunately.
To be honest, the vast majority of the refugees (whom we prefer to call displaced) are occupying the public schools that the government opened for them.
They find volunteers and similar organizations to help them. Every group takes responsibility of a school and try to help as much as possible.
As for schools, I think it is almost definite that public schools at least, will not open in time.
It is summertime now- no schools- but if this situation extends for a longer while, then it is truly a disaster. We do not have precautions for winter conditions.
Name
Nafees
- United Kingdom
Profession
Question
Assalamu Alaikum Dear Brother,
As an aid worker on the ground, I was hoping you could answer the following questions:
1)The Israelis have been showing poor quality video footage claiming that Hezbollah are from civilian areas and further they claim that Hezbollah are using civilians as human shields – what is the truth of the claims?
2)How difficult is it for civilians to evacuate the areas being bombed? The Israelis claim that they have given plenty of notice for the people to leave.
Answer
1- It is absolutely untrue. The areas that the Israelis have bombed were occupied only by civilians as you have seen.
They have killed 900 civilians and 43 Hizbullah fighters as media shows, if it shows in the UK (?)
The areas they hit have proven to have nothing military in them. They targeted aid convoys from the United Arab Emirates which I guess the UAE can confirm.
2- It is almost impossible. They bombed all roads and bridges... many refugees walked for 45 kilometers to get to Saida! They are afraid of being targeted.
One of the refugees came to us in a horrible condition: Her parents were stuck in the South and could not find a car to transport them.
The Israelis have allowed a very, very limited number of Red Cross vehicles to operate in the South and have even targeted one of them, also targetting media vehicles.
I think the number I gave you, which I am responsible for, talks for itself.
The Americans have given smart bombs to the Israelis in order to be able to penetrate shelters where they claim Hizbullah are hiding. While in fact it has proved that it is only civilians that hide in these shelters.
Many people decided to stick to their land. Do the Israelis have the right to kick them out of their land? The people would rather die in their land and homes rather than be homeless, resourceless, and have an uncertain future.
Name
Marco
- United States
Profession
Question
I cannot believe the world reaction to what Israel is doing. Their actions are criminal.
I would like to know what is happening to the children in Lebanon?
As an aid worker, how many innocents have you seen that have been killed or injured?
Answer
I told you. 900 people were civilians and definitely innocent. 43 Hizbullah fighters got killed.
I have seen enough people displaced who had nothing to do at all with the war.
I have seen children forced to sleep in open air and in harsh conditions, knowing nothing of what will happen to them the next day.
I myself lost a fellow journalist.
As all of us saw, the Qana massacre included 40 children.
I wonder what threat they were to Israel.
Name
Hoda
- Saudi Arabia
Profession
Question
Sir,
How do you receive donations from outside Lebanon?
Is there a safe passage for aid?
And is there a safe way we can send money donations?
Answer
Of course.
We have opened a bank account that can recieve donations from abroad. The account number is shown on the website. All details facilitating the donation process are found on the website: www.mowatinun.blogspot.com
As for the passage of aid, yes there is. It is safe and can be sent through your governments.
Name
Bo Azza
- Tunisia
Profession
Question
Peaceful demonstrations and campagning for the Lebanese cause are known ways to support our brethren there.
What other ways can be of help?
Thanks in advance.
Answer
You can spread the word. Besides your donations, you can contact your local representatives and send them letters of indignation.
You can be as imaginative as possible. You can be our correspondents from wherever you are. You can start groups that can represent us in front of your media.
Organize concerts, activities, gather funds, and organize a process of gathering all aid possible through Lebanese embassies which you can contact.
You can demand that your contributions be sent through your governments and our embassies.
Name
jafer AP
- India
Profession
doctor
Question
How is the Christian community in Lebanon responding to the current Zionist onslaught?
Is there National in the resistance of Lebanese people?
Is it possible for aid workers to reach the ailing people there?
Thank you.
Answer
Our campaign is named Solidarity - 2006.
The Christians have shown true solidarity. In fact, they are providing aid in the biggest numbers. They have housed the displaced as their brothers. They believe that their support is part of the Lebanese people's resistance.
The Muslim/Christian divide, that people think exists, is actually non-existent. All aid-volunteers are of both sects and no one asks you what your religion is.
Within our group, we do not know whether you are Muslim or Christian and yes, we serve locations in all areas without any differentiation. The only areas we could not cover are those that the Israelis destroyed and cut-off all contact with.
Not only our group is acting in a Nationalist capacity. In fact, the biggest Christian party in Lebanon is providing the biggest aid volume. This shows that the Israeli idea of dividing the Lebanese failed and actually brought all the Lebanese closer together.
Name
Bilal
-
Profession
Question
I'd like to ask:
What is the current mood among the refugees of Lebanon?
Has hopelessness set in?
Is there a lot of anger towards Israel, or are people simply wondering how they will survive?
Answer
Honestly, I can only tell you what I have seen. I would not want to make a generalization.
The morale is really high. Those who have become in the street, and with no certainty in their lives, know that they will return to their homes no matter what and are in absolute support of Lebanon's resistance.
Everybody in Lebanon knows the criminal act of Israel and this aggression has only rooted further hatred and anger.
This war only made people more insistent to stick to their homeland. The children drew pictures of their houses and of the resistance and of themselves fighting back.
Name
Zahra
- South Africa
Profession
Question
Do refugees need a special kind of treatment because of the traumatic experiences they have gone through?
What kind of psychological treatment do you provide them with?
Answer
We provide the children with some help. We play with them and organize artistic activities. We have already done theater with them and they have been truly fascinating.
But this brings up a very important aspect. This war is only planting further hatred and is driving the people away from living normal lives and being moderate. The children will defenitely grow to a defensive mindset.
I am not a specialist myself, but I know for a fact that the experience would only prolong the conflict and is proving that these people have no option but to pick up arms and defend themselves, especially when there is no justice protecting them.
We tried to concentrate on helping the children because they are more flexible.
We worked on getting the residents of the areas that the displaced have moved to, to visit the displaced and to interact with them to help as much as possible and show them that they are not alone in this.
Besides that, we are unable to handle psychological problems that are numerous. We have limited resources and time. Specialists are doing what they can but when you have someone whose homeless, helpless, and under attack, there is nothing you can do before you settle them back to their normal lives, right?
