Over 500 Muslim and non-Muslim supporters joined a gathering for unity and support for a humanitarian appeal for Lebanon to gather monetary funds for the war victims of Lebanon on August 8th, 2006 from 5-8 PM at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in McLean, Virginia.

The event was organized by the Lebanese Embassy in Washington, DC, and co-sponsored by the Al Hewar Center, Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), American Druze Society, Charitable Affairs, American Foundation for St. George Hospital Inc., American Task Force for Lebanon (ATFL), AUB Alumni Association of North America, Arab American Institute (AAI), Council of American Islamic Relations (CAIR), Hariri Foundation, International Orthodox Christian Charities, Lebanese American Council for Democracy, National US Arab Chamber of Commerce, and Network of Arab-American Professionals.

Lebanese Embassy officials said since the conflict began, more than 900,000 persons have been displaced, 900 civilians killed, 3,000 civilians wounded and more than half of Lebanon’s infrastructure destroyed.

"We hope to collect donations to send emergency aid within 48 hours to alleviate the suffering of Lebanese families," said Walid Haider, first secretary of the Lebanese Embassy. "All of the relief organizations present here today are currently doing relief work in Lebanon."

The objective of the event was to gather various relief organizations such as the Mosaic Foundation, Hariri Foundation, Free Patriotic Movement, CHF International and the Rene Moawad Foundation to collect funds for Lebanese relief. All contributions collected will be directly submitted to Red Cross Lebanese Relief in Beirut Lebanon. The Red Cross office in Lebanon will disperse the funds to provide immediate medical services, food, water, shelter, clothing, and refugee relocation.

Currently, the Red Cross, along with all other relief organizations are distributing hot meals to thousands of men, women, and children, providing life-saving medicines and supplies to hospitals and clinics in Beirut that were not equipped for the increased demand by thousands of displaced families, and planning for intervention to ensure access to clean drinking water and hygienic sanitation systems to reduce the threat of disease.

The conflict in the Middle East has caused numerous casualties, widespread destruction of Lebanon’s infrastructure, and the displacement of increasing numbers of Lebanese women and children. According to the American Red Cross, to date, most casualties on both sides of the Israeli-Lebanese border have been civilians, and refugees have fled to neighboring countries.

"Our objective is to provide medical and material assistance in the next 48 hours to ease the suffering of the victims of this manmade disaster," said David Meltzer, vice president of Red Cross Lebanese Relief.

"We are here today in solidarity to support our Lebanese people. It is very unfortunate that this conflict has displaced almost a million Lebanese families," said Imam Masoud, a Lebanese-American supporter from Leesburg, Virginia.

"We need to show support for victims of war who are being killed unjustly. I am here today to support this good cause monetarily and morally," Danny Haddad, a resident of Washington, DC.

All funds raised at the event went directly to provide relief assistance to the needy families of Lebanon.

By Muslim Link Staff