UPDATE: 24 September 2024
The situation for innocent civilians in Lebanon has become ever more precarious. Our President and Founder, Patrick Bouchebel, was scheduled to visit Beirut this week. However, his flight was cancelled due to the sudden escalation of hostilities as hundreds of airstrikes have pounded Lebanon during the past two days.
As of the most recent Flash Update from UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on September 6th, 2024:
- 113,054 individuals (52% females) have been displaced
- 2,566 casualties
- 589 deaths; 137+ civilian
- 4,000 residential buildings destroyed
- 20,000 buildings severely damaged
Since this report was published, the situation has escalated drastically.
Last week, Israel allegedly launched two cyber attacks targeting Hezbollah pagers, two-way radios, and other electronics resulting in 9 deaths and thousands of injuries on Day One and 20 deaths and 450 injuries on Day Two. Hezbollah responded with rocket attacks on military targets inside of Israel.
These attacks prefaced Israeli Operation Northern Arrows, which began yesterday with hundreds of airstrikes around Lebanon, including capital city of Beirut. As of this morning:
- 558 additional killed, including 50 children and 94 women;
- 1,850 additional injured; and
- Tens of thousands additional persons displaced.
As of this writing, the WAM team in Beirut is safe, grateful for your prayers, and responding as we are able to and as safety allows. All flights into and out of Beirut have been cancelled. School has been cancelled as school buildings are converted into temporary shelters for newly displaced persons.
Contributions to our war relief fund can be made below and are greatly appreciated. Please continue to watch our Field Notes for future updates. As always, we covet your prayers as we work to bring aid and relief to families impacted by war, disaster, and injustice.