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The Olive Press

Dr. Vicken Kalbian: a Steadfast Friend to Anera and to Palestinians

by Anera

Sep 7, 2021

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Anera is mourning the death of Dr. Vicken Kalbian, who died on Friday, September 2, 2021, at the age of 96. His influence and leadership has been seminal to Anera for over four decades. Long a pillar of Jerusalem’s medical community and one of its most celebrated and accomplished physicians, Vicken maintained his commitment to…

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4 Reasons to Care About Humanitarian Funding Needs in 2021

by Anera

Aug 18, 2021

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Humanitarian funding provides vulnerable groups the resources they need to restore a happy, healthy state of life. Around the world, people need a helping hand following natural disasters and political unrest. The aid they receive thanks to humanitarian funding serves many vital purposes. Humanitarian aid can save lives in times of crisis, and it can…

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Yet Another Explosion in Lebanon. What More Can We Endure?

Aug 16, 2021

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Lebanon has had yet another horrible disaster. On early Sunday morning, August 15, a fuel tank exploded in Akkar, one of the poorest areas of the country. The causes are still under investigation, but the explosion left 28 people dead and injured nearly 100 others. This has happened at a time when the economy has…

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COVID-19 in Lebanon and Palestine: Anera Response Log

by Anera

Aug 6, 2021

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We will update this log regularly to provide an ongoing report back to donors on the ways Anera is responding during this COVID-19 crisis. We will also be providing occasional updates about conditions on the ground and our staff. Please visit and share this page often! We are also creating Arabic-language COVID-19 health materials addressing…

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Beirut Explosion: Responding in the Aftermath

by Anera

Aug 4, 2021

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A cataclysmic explosion in Beirut on August 4, 2020 killed well over 200 people and injured another 6,000. It was one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history. Emergency rooms are over capacity with badly injured people, and medical supplies are quickly being depleted with no restock available. A large swath of the city has…

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One Year Ago, Beirut Exploded. Now the Situation is Worse.

Aug 4, 2021

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It was midnight and I was driving my husband to the hospital for a medical emergency. I travelled through a city cloaked in darkness. We hadn’t had electricity in Beirut for days. The street lights were off and the roads were empty in a place that once vibrated with life 24/7. My eyes filled up…

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Lebanon Situation Report

by Anera

Jul 16, 2021

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According to the World Bank, Lebanon currently faces one of the worst economic and financial crises anywhere on the planet. Beginning in 2019, the Lebanese pound’s (LBP) value decreased by 90%. Lebanon’s GDP contracted 6.7% in 2019 and 20.3% in 2020, and in 2021, the GDP is expected to contract 9.5%. The crisis decimated the…

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Updates on the Crisis in Palestine

by Anera

Jul 1, 2021

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We will continue to update this page to reflect the latest on the situation in Palestine (Gaza, West Bank) and Anera’s response. Help provide emergency support in Palestine Despite the ceasefire, Palestinian families face enormous challenges working to recover and rebuild in the wake of Israel’s recent bombing of Gaza. In East Jerusalem and the…

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A Country in Depression

Jun 25, 2021

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After 8 months away, my recent return to Lebanon brought home how desperate the situation has become In 2019, tension in Lebanon had been brewing more and more each day. Prices were soaring, so was unemployment. Shortages in electricity, fuel and water were rampant, resulting in civil unrest which included acts of self immolation, increased…

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Don’t Forget the People of Lebanon

Jun 23, 2021

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“I write this to remind you, Anera’s community, that the people of this wonderful country are still living in an acutely terrible – but also chronic – situation. I believe that change will come, but in the meantime it’s our responsibility to keep people going and offer a glimpse of hope for the future.”

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