Oxfam launches ?1m Middle East Crisis Appeal

Oxfam today launches a Middle East Crisis appeal calling on the British public to donate ?1m for the charity?s work in Lebanon, northern Israel and Gaza. The appeal comes as the scale of the necessary relief effort begins to come to light. Thousands are returning to southern Lebanon where destroyed villages require a massive level of aid.

The money raised will provide life-saving clean water, safe sanitation and public hygiene to thousands who are now returning to their homes or who do not have homes to return to.

In Lebanon alone the aid effort faces a huge challenge, with nearly one million people displaced - a quarter of the country?s population. In three days, 200,000 people returned to their homes, or to the site of what was once their home. Roads are damaged, bridges are destroyed and the land in southern Lebanon is strewn with unexploded bombs, missiles and clustered bombs.

?The generous support of the British public is crucial to help us meet the needs of ordinary people affected by this conflict,? said Nick Roseveare, Oxfam?s Humanitarian Director.

?This has been a conflict where innocent civilians have almost exclusively borne the brunt of the fighting. In Lebanon a nation is on the move, returning to villages that are severely damaged, homes that no longer exist, communities that have been shattered ? the aid effort has to run to catch up and respond to this growing need,? he added.

During the past three weeks, an Oxfam team based in Beirut has already spent ?200,000 on providing food, clothes, hygiene kits and clean water to more than 12,000 displaced people in Beirut, Byblos, Lebanon Mountain, Bekaa Valley, Tyre, Tripoli and Saida. With the cessation of hostilities Oxfam?s team can now respond in southern Lebanon, where the needs are greatest.

Besides its work in Lebanon Oxfam will be supporting local organisations to assist poor communities who have suffered as a result of rocket attacks in northern Israel. In Gaza, where the crisis has been overshadowed by the recent conflict, Oxfam?s partner organisations will be providing water and sanitation facilities. Oxfam also has projects that are improving the amount and variety of food available in Gaza.

Stars call on public to support Oxfam?s appeal

"The bombs may have stopped falling, but the intense suffering goes on for thousands of people across the Middle East, who find themselves without a home, and without access even to the most basic provisions of safe water and basic hygiene. Oxfam's appeal will get countless people back on track towards an acceptable standard of living so they can begin the long journey of rebuilding their shattered lives," said Joanna Lumley.

"Although we now have the ceasefire we were all calling for, the scale of the crisis in the Middle East is only now becoming apparent. Hundreds of thousands are returning home only to find that they are living without shelter, without safe water and without basic hygiene. The suffering people of Lebanon will have many difficult years ahead trying to rebuild their lives. Please support Oxfam's appeal and donate as generously as you can - you will be making all the difference," said Chris Bisson, star of Coronation Street and Shameless.

"Even though the guns have now fallen silent across the Middle East, there is still so much to be done to restore even a basic standard of living to innocent civilians. Hundreds of thousands of people remain homeless, lacking even safe water and basic hygiene. By supporting Oxfam's appeal, you'll be helping countless people across the region to get back on their feet and start to live a normal, dignified life once more," said Jimi Mistry, star of the films East is East and The Guru.

What your donation could buy

?35 will provide hygiene kits for two families that contain soap, towels, washing bowls, sanitary pads and other essential items.
?50 will provide 20 buckets to store safe clean water.
?100 will provide hygiene kits for six families.

How to donate
To donate to the Oxfam appeal, the public can:

Call the appeal hotline: 0870 333 2500
Donate cash, credit card or cheque at any Oxfam shop
Donate online at: www.oxfam.org.uk