Prayers for the Middle East

CWS encourages prayer and advocacy. Please continue to encourage support for the Gaza Palestine Emergency Appeal.

Last week the Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon wrote to thank donors and provide an update on the situation. DSPR focuses on education for all ages in Lebanon.

“There are three Palestinian refugee camps in the South of Lebanon with a population of around 60,000 persons. There are also more than 3 informal settlements which is home to a big number of Non-ID Palestinian refugees. In the midst of these camps namely on the periphery of the city of Tyre and serving them all through its different programmes, lies the DSPR Lebanon farm [which offers a variety of training programmes to Palestinian and Syrian refugees]. Up to the present, these camps have not been hit [by the bombing] but hundreds from the villages on the borders have taken refuge with friends or relatives.

“As most people are poor, there is the need to help the hosting camps support the people who have taken refuge amongst them. In addition, everyone is afraid of the escalation of the aggression. We are very happy that we are still able to plant and sell our organic vegetables, but no one has signed up for any classes as all are apprehensive of what might happen. All schools in the villages which were hit have closed rendering a wasted year for students. We are grateful that the UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees] schools are still functioning, but for how long with the impending danger and the drastic cuts that UNRWA is sustaining from the international community!!

…Although we pray fervently that the genocide in Gaza stops immediately and Lebanon will be spared from all this destructive aggression, we felt we should get ready to respond... Our life seems to be always full of wars and all we really want is peace.”