The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is responding to a United Nations appeal for humanitarian aid to help civilians caught in the conflict between Israeli and Hezbollah forces in Lebanon and Israel.
U.N. officials are asking for international assistance to meet the needs for three months of an estimated 800,000 people who have been displaced, wounded or otherwise affected by the fighting.
A Church donation of medical supplies, powdered milk, baby formula, hand soap and hygiene kits will be flown to the affected region by Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW). The planeload of aid is expected to leave Salt Lake City on Tuesday, 1 August, and arrive in Lebanon a few days later. Representatives of IRW and the Hariri Foundation, a Lebanese development and education organization, will oversee distribution.
The Church has met an urgent request for $50,000 from Magen David Admon, the Israeli affiliate of the International Red Cross. The donation will be used in Haifa to respond to increased demand on Magen David Admon’s blood services program, ambulance response and support of individual family needs.
President Gordon B. Hinckley, leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has emphasized that the Church’s humanitarian assistance is provided to those in need wherever they may be without regard to religious affiliation, race, ethnicity or political persuasion.
Of the Church’s worldwide efforts to relieve suffering, President Hinckley has said: "We have … blessed the lives of many people who are not of our faith but who also are children of our Father. We will continue to do so for as long as we have the means."