July 24, 2006 Update

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

$53,000 out of $62,500 raised. $9,500 to go.

WLP partner, Collective for Research and Training on Development-Action (CRTD-A), has received individual donations and funders’ pledges amounting to $53,000. Thank you for your generous support! Of this amount, $11,500 cash was available on Saturday. Relief kits and cleaning kits for $11,000 have been purchased and distributed as of today.

Standing in support and solidarity with CRTD-A are WLP partners in Jordan (Sisterhood Is Global Institute/Jordan), Afghanistan (Afghan Institute of Learning and Creating Hope International), and Nigeria (BAOBAB for Women’s Human Rights). They are donating as individuals, as organizations, and mobilizing funds locally. We cannot begin to thank the numerous individuals who have stopped by our offices, sent checks, or donated online to support women-headed households with $62.50 per health and sanitation kit. Your support heartens and encourages CRTD-A and the coalition of NGOs to persevere in taking steps towards meeting a seemingly insurmountable challenge.

Please continue to give. Large scale displacement continues. Banks are running out of cash. Shortages are causing vendors to increase prices for goods, for which they now accept cash alone. Local factories have been destroyed, limiting supplies needed. The transportation system has been disrupted making delivery of kits more difficult. Now, mobile phone networks are being destroyed. Disruption of communication will present new challenges in a situation where coordination is already complex.

CRTD-A is working through its national network of women’s groups to decentralize operations and reach the displaced more quickly. The groups, which formerly cooperated on rights campaigns such as the campaign for women’s right to nationality, are now working to bring relief and humanitarian aid to the hundreds of thousands internally displaced peoples, particularly women and children.
In addition to delivery of kits, our partner is ensuring that women are taking an active role in meeting their needs and in sustaining this initiative. They are emphasizing women’s active participation and representation on environmental health committees in the IDP public schools to ensure cleanliness of common spaces and appropriate distribution of clean water.

CRTD-A is simultaneously carrying out needs assessments to identify other growing needs of the more than 60,000 displaced families. We will keep you updated.

Thank you for your generosity,
Women’s Learning Partnership

Please scroll down to read previous alerts on the situation.

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July 19, 2006 Update

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

We are heartened by your support for our partner in Lebanon, the Collective for Research and Training on Development-Action (CRTD-A). In less than a day we have heard from many of you who have expressed solidarity with the women of Lebanon, sent individual donations, and volunteered to go to Beirut to help the sick and needy. CRTD-A is also greatly encouraged by a generous grant they have just received from The Global Fund for Women, who are committed to supporting future rebuilding and reconciliation efforts in the country.

Our partner needs your continued support as the situation worsens. They have reported today that casualties continue to mount, the number of displaced in Beirut has grown from 40,000 yesterday to 60,000 today, tens of thousands have left the country, and the widespread destruction of infrastructure-- roads, electrical power houses, factories, airports, and bridges-- continues.

In the midst of all this CRTD-A staff are risking their lives as they travel to their offices, continue their work, and coordinate relief activities for women and children. Their resolve and strength of spirit is inspiring to us all.

Thank you for your continued support,
Women’s Learning Partnership

Please click here for information on how to donate to CRTD-A.

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July 18, 2006

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Our partners in Lebanon, the Center for Research and Training on Development-Action (CRTD-A), have asked for assistance in their effort to care for the needs of internally displaced civilians.

Thousands of women and children in Beirut are being housed in public schools. Their basic health and sanitation needs are unmet and they require emergency relief assistance. CRTD-A in cooperation with the Zicco Relief Center and a coalition of civic organizations is working round the clock to attend to their immediate needs.

Your donation of $62.50 will provide one woman-headed household with basic necessities-- such as drinking water, diapers, soap and sanitary pads-- which are not included in relief kits and assistance being provided by the Lebanese High Commission for Relief, Ministry of Social Affairs, and Ministry of Public Health. CRTD-A needs $62,500 to help 1,000 female-headed households.

Please read on for a brief of the situation and for CRTD-A's bank account information.  Thank you for your support.

Best regards,
Women's Learning Partnership

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17 July 2006 Update

There are an increasing number of women and children who are being internally displaced in Beirut, the Bekaa valley, North Lebanon, and the mountains.  They are being housed in schools and other public facilities. In the city of Beirut itself there are currently between 30,000 and 40,000 refugees, who are being housed in 70 schools. The Lebanese government has been providing each family with $50 relief kits of basic food supplies and medications, but yesterday the government ran out of supplies.

NGOs are taking responsibility for caring for the needs of those housed in public schools. WLP’s Lebanon partner, Collective for Research and Training on Development–Action (CRTD-A), is working with the Zicco House Relief Center in Hamra, Beirut to coordinate relief activities.  The Relief Center is now open 24 hours and is responsible for meeting the needs of 7,000 refugees housed in 22 schools in Verdun, Zeideiniyeh, Mseitbeh, and Ras el Nab’e.  They do not have adequate human or material resources to care for the needs of the displaced.

The schools are crammed with refugees and in dire need of supplies.  Among the immediate necessities for women and children are: drinking water, sanitary pads, diapers for children, soap, detergents, disinfectants and cleaning material, matches, candles, tissues and toilet paper, garbage bins, mops and buckets, talcum powder, and skin creams for allergies and rashes. The Relief Center has been able to secure basic medical supplies and mattresses from individual donations and contacts. They are linking with YMCA to get more medicines. The Center is also trying to coordinate with the Ministry of Social Affairs and the High Commission of Refugees to secure basic supplies.

CRTD-A is taking responsibility to secure funds for the Relief Center to support the needs of women and children in IDP schools.  They require $62.50 to provide health and sanitation kits to one household, each comprising on average four adults and three children.  They have the responsibility of providing these kits to 1,000 female-headed households.

Bank Information

Organization:	Centre for Research and Training on Development-Action
Account Number:	230199 044 02
Bank:	Audi Bank
Bank Address:	Sodeco Branch, Sodeco, Beirut, Lebanon
Bank's SWIFT Code:	AUDBLBBX