The Israeli War on Lebanon has largely affected the social, economic, industrial and educational sectors allover the country especially in the Southern villages that were targets for Israeli bombs for one month. Also, the war has resulted in the displacement of around 860,000 people from their homes, and the massive destruction of schools, infrastructure and transportation, including 15,000 houses. As of August 21, the government of Lebanon estimates that 716,000 have returned, many of whom are living with host families and relatives as they wait for their houses to be assessed and rebuilt

AFDC’s mission is community-based conservation for a sustainable livelihood of people. Based on this mission, circumstances during the war urged AFDC to think and act to move beyond common conservation activities towards an integrated relief campaign as it is fundamentally local communities and the well-being of people that AFDC is most committed to. The AFDC relief campaign targeted the basic needs for the survival of the locals where AFDC is active and to give special attention to the needs that are not fulfilled by other working organizations such as children’s need to have a good environment that help them to adapt to the current situation.
Accordingly, AFDC launched the Relief for Conservation Campaign and built partnerships with different local and international humanitarian organizations to respond to the local urgent needs. The IRC (International Rescue Committee) was the main partner in AFDC activities after cease fire in August 2006 until October 2006. This Campaign targeted areas in southern Lebanon (Go to MAP) in Jezzine and Arkoub areas.

 The major Relief activities implemented between August and December 2006 include:

1. Field visits during the war to the Internal Displaced Centers to assess the needs of people living in those centers in the areas of water, sanitation and child protection, and development of project proposals accordingly.

2. Field visits after cease-fire to the South to assess the needs for water and sanitation and to identify the type of intervention and assistance.

3. Provision of hygiene kits. A total of 835 hygiene kits were provided in cooperation with IRC and distributed as presented in the table below. This included female hygiene kits and solid waste bags.

4.Provision of water storage tanks in cooperation with IRC:

5.Provision of 42 generators in cooperation with IRC:

• Since most of these areas lost their access to electricity as a result,generators were distributed to the affected areas to help them resume their regular activities.
• The villages of Souane and Qabbrikha each received one 200 KVA generator.
• Maroun al-Ras and Kfar Hammam each received one 100 KVA generator.
• Thirty eight 5 KVA generators were distributed in the other villages.

6. Facilitation of training of community members to increase awareness of water, sanitation and hygiene-related health problems: Three training workshops for AFDC volunteers were held at the Mediterranean Forest Development and Conservation Center of Lebanon (MFDCL) and Beirut office.

In one workshop conducted by IRC volunteers were trained in the area of child protection. The second training workshop volunteers were trained in the area of water and sanitation. In the framework of child protection a campaign was launched by UNICEF and other international and national organizations (Word Vision, IRC, Save the Children, IMC, etc.) that targeted children affected by the war, and after a series of coordination meetings with the different bodies, volunteers from AFDC units in the South participated in the "Safe Space Workshop" in Platinum Residence Hotel, Sour, South Lebanon on September 26- 27, 2006

7.Child protection activities:

• A camp was held for children in Baraachit.
• Most of the families left Baraachit as a result of the hostilities.
• Upon returning, most of the children were shocked by the site of the tremendous amount of destruction incurred to their hometown.
• As a result, a  five day's camp was held, which aimed to create a fun, comfortable environment for war-affected children and raise their awareness on mines, environment and health issues.  
• The activities took place at the Municipality’s main hall. Each day included two sessions (morning and afternoon). A total of 200 children participated in these activities held in Baraachit.

8. Monitoring of the use of the distributed water tanks: AFDC local volunteer units in the areas distributed the water tanks and conducted a survey on the use of the tanks to ensure proper usage. 

9. Camp for children in Rmeich Village in cooperation with the Hanns Seideil Foundation: In the village of Rmeich, AFDC held a child protection activity similar to the one held in Baraachit. Unlike in Baraachit, the children in Rmeich were under siege with their parents during the hostilities. They witnessed severe attacks on the borders of the village in addition to living under difficult conditions where they lacked basic necessities like water and food. However, the village was not destroyed like other surrounding villages. The five day's camp that was held was very successful.

10. Wild Plants Center in Rmeich in cooperation with the SDC (Swiss Development Commission):AFDC is currently implementing a project in Rmeich to develop a natural plant-processing center. This is an income-generating activity, which will allow the locals to use the wealth of natural plants the village has in a marketable manner. The plants will be dried, packaged and sold for various uses.

11. Supporting the students in Kfarchouba: Provision of schoolbags for all children in the village with the financial support of the Hanns Seidel Foundation Provision of Jackets for all students in Kfarcbouba village with the financial support of the International American School in Egypt.

12. Assisting the local communities after war in Jezzine and Arkoub areas in the South:providing Ambulance and agricultural truck for Baraachit village in the South which was destroyed during the war; providing office equipment, water suppliers, power supplies and support to shepherds in Kfarshouba in Arkoub area.