9th March 2026

Escalation of violence and the mass displacement of people in Lebanon due to Israel's relentless bombing has caused Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) teams across the country to rapidly adapted their activities to respond to the growing humanitarian needs. MSF say that in reality, humanitarian suffering has never stopped since the war beetwen Israel and Lebanon escalated 17 months ago. As of 6 March, an estimated 217 people were killed and close to 800 injured as a result of Israel's recent bombing of Lebanon, in addition to the 370 people who were killed in Lebanon by Israel since the “ceasefire” began in November 2024.   The November 2024 “ceasefire agreement” never brought resulted in safety for people in Lebanon, as Israeli forces continued their daily strikes, displacing thousands of families. Many have been displaced multiple times. Shelters are overcrowded and some people are sleeping in cars or on the streets. There's also a desperate need for clean water and sanitation support for these people. Some primary health care centres fall within areas under evacuation orders, negatively impacting continuity of care of patients. 

Loving God, we come before you bring you our love and concern for our neighbours in the Middle East. As renewed conflict spreads and fear grows, we lift up every person whose life has been disrupted - those forced from their homes, those sheltering in uncertainty, and those grieving sudden loss. Today we particularly bring to you the needs of people suffering constant bombardment, death injury and displacement in Lebanon.  We ask your comfort and care for all who grieve the deaths of those they love, and your compassionate care for all who now find each day is a struggle for survival.  We ask for your protections for, give you thanks for, humanitarian worker, who at risk to themselves seek to help others. Grant strength to communities who are exhausted by ongoing instability, and hope to those who feel overwhelmed by fear and uncertainty. We pray for peace across the region.  May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.   In the name of Jesus we pray.  Amen.

Jasmine is 14 years old and lives in Southampton, UK. She was born with the left and right ventricles of her heart swapped, along with other serious complications. During her medical treatment she received valued support from Heartbeat. Heartbeat is a regional charity supporting people with congenital and cardiovascular disease by supporting the work of the Wessex Cardiac Unit based at the University Hospital Southampton. They provide specialised equipment, services and facilities to help patients and their relatives through their cardiac journey, and fund ground-breaking research to improve advancements in heart health.   Jasmine said: "When I received treatment for my condition, I wanted to say thank you to Heartbeat for all they have done to support me. I set out to raise the money for my heart". Jasmine walked a mile every day for 26 days, one for each day she spent in hospital, starting on 12 December 2025, exactly one year after her operation. Jasmine raised far more than covering the cost of her new 3D heart.  She said, "thanks to the kind support from everyone, the £6,203 raised will, I hope, pay for more 3D hearts, so that more people can receive treatment and feel better sooner."  Tanya Harder, fundraising and marketing manager at Heartbeat, said: "Thanks to such a generous donation from Jasmine, Heartbeat will be able to continue to fund projects like the 3D heart initiative, as well as provide support and care for patients being treated for heart conditions, and their families." 

God of life and God of love

you are the Lord of heaven and earth.

Angels and Archangels bow before you.

With them we praise you.

 We give you honour and glory.

We praise you Father God, creator of all that is.

We praise you Son of God, for redeeming the world.

We praise you Holy Spirit of God

for your work in the world revealing your truth,

renewing our lives

and bringing us to your eternal Kingdom.

We praise and glorify you,

one God,

Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Amen.