wfn.org | Bethlehemites Aid Neighbors Hit by Israeli Shelling

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Topic:  Bethlehemites Aid Neighbors Hit by Israeli Shelling

Contact: Edmund Shehadeh, Executive Director
Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation
P.O Box 100
Bethlehem, Palestine
Fax:  +972 (02) 2744053
e-mail:  basr@planet.edu

BETHLEHEM, WEST BANK, Nov. 1, 2000.  The Israeli brutal attacks against
Palestinian unarmed civilians persist for the fifth week. Yesterday, the
Israeli military forces have committed the most violent war crimes in
El-Khader village as well as the towns of Beit-Jala, Beit-Sahour and Bethlehem,
  causing serious damage in certain inhabited buildings and the death of 3 
young martyrs.

These brutal attacks also targeted the Bethlehem Arab Society for
Rehabilitation's (BASR) newly refurbished Vocational Training Centre as well
as El-Khader Community Day-Care Centre for children with mental and physical
handicap.

Besides, they have also waged a psychological war against the inhabitants by
calling certain families at night and falsely informing them about the death
of their  beloved ones.

Under these difficult circumstances, BASR has declared the emergency
state and opened its doors to receive Al-Aqsa Intifadah injured,
providing them with medical care and different types of rehabilitation
services as well as the necessary technical aids free of charge. It has
also formed an “Emergency Crisis Intervention Team” consisting of a
psychiatrist, 2 psychologists, 15 relief workers, in addition to the
project coordinator.

The goal of our crisis intervention endeavor is to help assure that the
victims of the Israeli violent attacks and massacres become survivors by
doing whatever can be done to prevent long-term, negative consequences of the
psychological trauma.

This "Emergency Crisis Intervention Team" renders a variety of services
to Al-Aqsa Intifadah injured and their family members, particularly
children, as well as families who suffered the loss of their beloved
ones and others who have been through a traumatic experience under the
current stressful situation.

The relief workers visit these trauma victims in their homes, assess their
individual needs and provide them with moral support and encouragement. They
also guide them to certain organizations that could provide support such as
the Ministry of Social Welfare and Human Rights Organizations and/or refer
them to BASR where they could be provided with medical treatment, 
rehabilitation and
psychological intervention as well as the necessary technical aids.

BASR has created an emergency individual relief program
through which it has provided many disadvantaged families with food
parcels. It has also provided the families whose homes have been
seriously damaged with financial support to help them cope with the
necessities of life such as: clothing, blankets, etc.

These services are rendered to all people in need regardless of their sex,
religion or political affiliation.  These activities are carried out in 
cooperation
and coordination with local committees as well as national and
international organizations.  It is through the generous donations of
our friends and supporters that BASR is able to achieve its humanitarian
goals.

End