The Middle East Council of Churches Trains Activists to Support the Affected People by the War in Lebanon
A New Training on Disaster Risk Management and Churches Response
In light of a difficult time during which Lebanon is suffering as a result of air strikes targeting its towns, accompanying activists, as well as Church and health workers, has become necessary in order to support them. This is in addition to providing them with basic skills which are essential for responding to the repercussions of the ongoing war in the country. Hence, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Diakonia and Social Service Department, implemented new training course entitled “Disaster Risk Management and Churches Response,” which was held in the border town of Marjayoun, with specialists from various fields.
The session, in which participants were an Ecumenical group of clergy, lay people, and activists in the border regions, included many sessions centered around the essential role played by Churches, especially since they are lifelines for communities in turmoil and the first side that seeks to embrace the affected, needy, and displaced people. The training also empowered the Church on how to be more efficient in their response and be more organized in times of crisis for best outcome. Moreover, it shed lights on ways to support citizens in the border areas and other regions affected by the conflicts and raids they are exposed to, as well as how to accompany the displaced people, whose number is increasing significantly, in search of places that may be considered safe.
In addition, the training included several workshops about the assessment of local needs and capacities in the targeted areas, and risk assessment in the intervention areas, in addition to preparing a table for logical analysis - evaluation, follow-up, and action plan, as well as a presentation of international humanitarian standards and international policies which are necessary for humanitarian work. It also included instructions on how to write a response plan for disasters and crises, in order to raise the necessary funding and thus provide the needed aid.
It is worth mentioning that the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) had implemented a similar training course last June, in Bethania, Harissa - Lebanon, which contributed to providing participants with basic skills that would enable them to help the Church heal the wounds of the most affected people in times of disasters.
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