Washington, DC — October 10, 2006 —The Department For International Development (DFID), the British government department dealing in humanitarian aid, has awarded us a grant in the amount of $843,847 to provide assistance to small farm households in southern Lebanon adversely affected by the conflict between the Israeli Defense Forces and Hezbollah.

IRD will implement the program with its local partner, the International Center for Organizational Development (ICOD). The project, which will continue for four months, will focus on ten small villages in the Tyre District of southern Lebanon.

The project has four main components:

• - Small grants consisting of $200 in cash and $300 worth of in-kind materials to replace equipment that was lost or damaged to 860 households;
• - Small grants amounting to $500 each to 100 businesses and trades people, based on business recovery needs;
• - Vocational training in trade skills targeted toward landless laborers, including masonry, carpentry, plumbing and electrical work for 50 participants. The course will last from four to six weeks and the entire vocational package is valued at $800, including a tool kit for graduates; and
• - Cash-for-work for 200 workers to participate in public works projects, chosen from those who are most vulnerable due to lack of cash reserves.

The project is estimated to benefit more than seven thousand people.

Beirut, Lebanon — August 11, 2006 — The assessment team arrived in Beirut by humanitarian cargo flight. During the flight we literally sat on top of pallets of canned emergency foods. There are no seats on this type of cargo plane.

We spent several hours discussing assessment and logistics with our Lebanese partners who have offered us access to their office and facilities. The team will focus on essential commodities and water and sanitation systems. All activities require coordination with the UN, government health authorities and other humanitarian agencies; the team continues to participate in UN-led meetings to provide information, ensure coordination, and help identify resources needed.

With respect to Beirut itself — as a consequence of fuel shortage, concern about hostilities, pre-occupation with incoming IDPs, and concerns about personal finances and the availability of goods, activity in the city is greatly diminished. The usually clogged streets are uncommonly navigable — they are not empty but tremendously less crowded. Multi-hour long lines are seen at every gas station, waiting for the current 10 liter (2.5 gallons) ration. About 50 percent of the shops are closed. Those open shops and supermarkets still have goods, but not as much as usual. Electric brownouts and occasional power cuts occur. And every time the noise of an airplane is heard, people on the streets look up to see if it is friend or foe. Yesterday a bombing occurred not far from our hotel, in a neighborhood that is presumed to be totally safe, and last night several explosions could be heard in the intermediate distance.

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Larnaca, Cyprus — August 4, 2006 — Today, the IRD team in Cyprus received visas for travel into Lebanon, which as you know has been a long and difficult process. We decided to process them in Cyprus due to conflicting information on ability to process visas upon arrival in Beirut.

The situation in Beirut is described as tense; due to the bombings last night in the north, relief activities have been curtailed. It is reported that many local staff members did not report for work today, and that most people chose to stay inside for security reasons. Local staff are still available but not on a regular basis due to the insecurity of the situation.

However, international staff can move around in Beirut, the south excluded due to extensive and continued bombing. Significant personal danger from individual attacks during the day has not been reported, despite the general level of tension and suspicion of foreigners. It is supposedly difficult to find good drivers, as many are only familiar with their immediate neighborhoods. Some organizations have been using expatriate staff as drivers and just having them figure their way out as they go.

The initial evacuation route was a road through the north of Lebanon into Syria; however, as of last night that road, which was also the only available humanitarian corridor for transport, was bombed. There is now no exit through the north and no working humanitarian corridor. Given the absence of an established air or sea bridge into or out of Beirut, the best available plan for humanitarian agencies is to stay in bomb shelters if the situation continues to worsen. Most are reported to be on pre-evacuation status.

Commodities that have arrived include mattresses, blankets, flour, rice, sugar and hygiene kits. Commodities that are needed are mattresses, blankets, resettlement kits, infant supplies, and specific medicines such as IV bags, vaccines, and other difficult-to-procure medicines. There is also a strong need for water and sanitation systems, including toilets, showers and drinking water.

The influx of so many people from southern Lebanon continues to cause severe strain on bedding, food and medicine supplies, as well as water and sanitation systems in Beirut. Water and sanitation systems present a special problem because these increased needs must be met rapidly in a highly urban environment.

Two populations have been identified as targets for delivery. The first population is displaced persons that have gathered in public places and are easily identifiable. According to local NGOs, their needs are for the most part being met.

The second population we have termed "the hidden displaced". The hidden displaced are those people that have been displaced from their homes and are staying with family and friends. These people are difficult to identify because they do not gather in large groups or public areas, but initial reports suggest the number is large.