Clinic, School Return To War-torn Lebanon

By David Snyder

Clinic, school return to war-torn Lebanon

Houssein Swaydan ushers staff members of the Development of People and Nature Association (DPNA) into his office at the Yāţar municipal building and closes the door. Outside, a meeting of local municipal leaders is taking place, but Houssein is eager to talk about other matters at the moment -- like the clinic downstairs, recently rebuilt with help from DPNA and Catholic Relief Services.

Houssein is the vice president of the Yāţar municipality, located in Yātar village, southern Lebanon. This area was hard-hit by the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah fighting, which destroyed 260 homes -- and damaged another 250 -- in this community of 9,000 residents. Also heavily damaged was the two-story municipal building, home to not only local government offices, but also a small clinic and a kindergarten.

Damage to the clinic, the only free one in the municipality, had far-reaching repercussions. In the days after the war, many feared the effects the clinic's loss would have on daily life and health of residents.

It was then, Houssein says, that DPNA -- one of CRS' primary partners in Lebanon -- appeared, providing food kits as well as health and cleaning kits.

Meeting Critical Needs

As Catholic Relief Services and its partners began transitioning from immediate relief to longer-term recovery -- part of a program of more than $11 million provided by the United States Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance -- all eyes turned to rebuilding the clinic. It was a particularly critical need, explains Houssein, since there was no funding available from the Lebanese government.

"If CRS and DPNA didn't give us help, we couldn't have done anything," Houssein says.

Combining their efforts with the United Nations Development Program, CRS worked to rebuild not only the clinic and the municipal building, but also the kindergarten and youth center within the building. Through the months it took to complete the project, a rash of illnesses -- caused by unsanitary conditions and stress -- reminded everyone of what was at stake. Making matters worse, unexploded ordnance claimed casualties even after the war was over.

"There were stomachaches and vomiting because of all the dust caused by the bombing," Houssein recalls. "We had one person killed and three injured by cluster bombs after the war." The United Nations estimates more than 1 million unexploded bombs remain scattered across southern Lebanon.

Something to Celebrate

On March 4, 2007, the project was completed. The opening of the clinic, and the other sites within the building, was marked with official ceremony.

"This was the first celebration we have had in 30 years that wasn't a religious celebration," Houssein says. "The heads of other municipalities came to take part."

Today, the clinic in Yāţar is staffed by local doctors two days each week. The doctors see, on average, 200 patients a week. Medicines are distributed free of charge by the International Medical Agency, which is also supported by the Ministry of Social Affairs. In addition, 80 children now attend the neighboring kindergarten, while Houssein and the other local government officials -- back in a refurbished office -- are able to concentrate on the many needs that remain.

Before rejoining the other community leaders outside of his office, Houssein offers a final thought.

"DPNA and CRS were the first to help the municipality with infrastructure projects," Houssein says. "Thanks to contributions you have made we are sitting here today in this building."

David Snyder has traveled to more than 30 countries with CRS, working in such crisis zones as Pakistan, Sudan, Angola, the West Bank, Lebanon and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

ENDS

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