DRI deeply regrets the severe hardship our colleagues in Lebanon are suffering due to the ongoing attack by the Israeli Army. We are in close contact with them and deeply hope that the fighting will end soon – in Lebanon,Israel and the Palestinian territories.
We are always inspired by the unwavering commitment of our colleagues,who continue to defend and advance democracy in their societies and elsewhere under extremely difficult circumstances. Not only in Lebanon,but also in Tunisia,DR Congo,Ukraine,as well as those of us in Berlin who are directly affected by the conflict. Many crises and wars today are also rooted in a lack of democratic accountability.
This war in Lebanon adds to a series of setbacks that NGOs like ours are facing around the world,whether due to war,geopolitical tensions,political repression,or other factors that impede our work. In DR Congo,our colleagues face the added challenge of a health crisis caused by the Mpox virus. In Ukraine,our colleagues confront daily the grim realities of Russia’s invasion.
We are in awe of our colleagues’ resilience and continued commitment,as they pursue our shared mission of defending and advancing democracy in societies around the world. You can count on our support.