A crisis has developed in the Middle East following armed confrontations between Israeli troops and Hezbollah guerillas in Southern Lebanon . A 34 day conflict has finally ended with a shaky cease fire. 15,000 UN troops are being tasked with assisting 15,000 Lebanese Army troops in policing Southern Lebanon and enforcing the cease fire.
During the conflict over a million people were displaced. Estimates show that 97% have returned home but are facing a growing humanitarian crisis.
A large amount of unexploded ordinance is preventing people from returning to their homes and farmers to their fields. Access to clean drinking water sources remains an enormous problem. Health care facilities have been damaged and are running short of supplies, especially emergency and essential medicines.
Reports of sporadic fighting continue to threaten an already shaky ceasefire. Supply lines, road ways, and bridges have been damaged making it more difficult to distribute humanitarian aid. Roads and bridges are being repaired. Aid is starting to reach the returnees. Key problems exist in the access of clean drinking water and availability of medicines.
Response:
Global Medic donated a large aid consignment of emergency medicines, essential medicines and water purification tablets to help the people of Lebanon . These donated items include desperately needed essential medicines, broad spectrum antibiotics, emergency medicines, and water purification tablets. They meet the items requested by Lebanese government officials.
The consignment includes the following items:
* 5.6 million 1 Litre Aquatabs
o To provide emergency water purification
* 3.25 million tablets of emergency and essential medicines
o 683,500 tablets of Ciprofloxacin 250mg
+ Broad spectrum antibiotic (UTI, gastroenteritis, dysentery)
o 280,000 tablets of Doxycycline 100mg
+ Broad spectrum antibiotic (cholera, malaria)
o 275,000 tablets of Metronidazole 500mg
+ Broad spectrum antibiotic (gastroenteritis, dysentery)
o 500,000 tablets of Mebendazole 100mg
+ Deworming medication
o 500,000 tablets of Propanolol
+ Anti-hypertensive
o 500,000 tablets of Loperamide
+ Decreases motility, used with gastroenteritis medications
These medications are produced by Cipla and MPSE. They all have at least two thirds of their shelf life. They have been donated by the Destiny Foundation and the Universal Healthcare Trusts. All medications have been shipped with their relevant certificates of analysis. All medicines and producers have WHO approval. Appendix A contains a copy of relevant shipping documents and certificates regarding these shipments. We have partnered with Mercy Corps to ensure they are properly distributed. Appendix B provides a copy of the memorandum of understanding with Mercy Corps.
Global Medic deployed a three member team. Appendix C provides a detailed list of team members and their qualifications. The team oversaw the distribution of emergency medicines and aquatabs in conjunction with MercyCorps.
The team also distributed 10 Noah Trekker Water Purification Units to various aid agencies working in Southern Lebanon such as Mines Advisory Group (MAG), Norwegian Church Aid (NCA), and the World Health Organization (WHO). Each Trekker Unit acts as a mobile water purification unit. A 1500 Litre bladder is placed on the back of a pick up truck and then filled with local river with a water pump. The unit is driven to an isolated village where aid has been in short supply. The trekker unit is then attached to the bladder and turns out potable water to villagers at a rate of 4 litres a minute. Each unit can provide emergency water for up to 1000 people a day.
Mines Advisory Group is a British charity tasked with removing landmines and unexploded ordinance in the affected zone. They are adding a further humanitarian component to their operations by using 4 Water Units to distribute clean water to villagers. Individual units can provide 1000 civilians with clean drinking water daily. MAG also received an inflatable field shelter. Their medical teams will use the shelter to provide emergency medical care to villagers in highly affected areas, operate a command post for quick deployment operations, and operate water sites. MAG agrees to provide emergency water for a 3 month period.
Norwegian Church Aid is also running aid programs in the south. They are a Norwegian religious relief group. NCA received 3 Trekker Units and agreed to provide emergency water for a 3 month period.
The World Health Organization along with the Tyre Governmental Hospital and the Nabatiye Governmental Hospital pointed out a dire need for clean water in the hospitals. The team implemented training programs and each hospital is now using a Trekker Unit each to provide clean drinking water and to use the purified water for cleaning of surgical instruments and use in the renal dialysis units.
Summary:
Donated:
* 1 Inflatable Field Command Unit that can serve as a mobile clinic to MAG
* Set up 10 Portable Water Purification Systems
o 5 with MAG roving units
o 2 in local hospitals
o 3 with NCA
* 5.6 million 1 Litre Aquatabs
o To provide emergency water purification
* Emergency and essential medicines to treat over 150,000 patients
* 3.25 million tablets of emergency and essential medicines
o 683,500 tablets of Ciprofloxacin 250mg
+ Broad spectrum antibiotic (UTI, gastroenteritis, dysentery)
o 280,000 tablets of Doxycycline 100mg
+ Broad spectrum antibiotic (cholera, malaria)
o 275,000 tablets of Metronidazole 500mg
+ Broad spectrum antibiotic (gastroenteritis, dysentery)
o 500,000 tablets of Mebendazole 100mg
+ Deworming medication
o 500,000 tablets of Propanolol
+ Anti-hypertensive
o 500,000 tablets of Loperamide
+ Decreases motility, used with gastroenteritis medications
