• About CIVIC

    CIVIC is a Washington-based non-profit organization that believes the civilians injured and the families of those killed should be recognized and helped by the warring parties involved.

    On this blog, you will find stories from our travels around the world as we meet with civilians and military, aid organizations and government in our quest to get war victims the help they need.

  • Countries

  • Guest Bloggers

    Ana, working on human rights issues in Afghanistan

    Catherine Philp, journalist and friend of Marla Ruzicka

    Jesse K., traveled to Lebanon to meet victims of cluster munitions

    Marc Garlasco, senior military analyst at HRW, CIVIC board member

    Michael, aid and peace-building expert working in Darfur

    Rebecca A., working with CIVIC's Erica in Afghanistan

    Rebecca W., working with CIVIC's Erica in Afghanistan

    More coming soon!

  • Contributors

    Sarah, Executive Director.

    Marla B, Associate Director.

    Erica, CIVIC's fellow based in Afghanistan

    Jon, CIVIC's US military consultant.

  • Media Content

VIDEO: Mahdi’s Story, Lebanon

Posted By: Marla B.

On a Thursday morning we left Tyre and traveled south to visit with more survivors and survey some of the other small towns. The first one we came to was Qana. Lebanese Christians believe this is where Jesus performed his first miracle, turning water to wine.

Qana also has a long, sad history of conflict. Perhaps most notably in 1996, when an Israeli missile attack hit a UN tent where the townspeople had fled for safety. Israel claimed a rocket launcher had been located nearby making the tent a viable target, but more than 100 civilians died that day.

In the 2006 war, Qana was peppered with clusters throughout the town and surrounding hills. This is the story of one small survivor.

For more on the 2006 conflict in Lebanon and Israel, and long-term aftermath, visit: http://www.civic-israel-lebanon.org/