As you are well aware, a destructive war, now in its second week, has broken out in Lebanon. The country has been literally crippled, with human lives lost now exceeding 300, more than 1000 injured, and hundreds of thousands displaced. The country’s physical infrastructure has been damaged extensively, cutting off villages, towns and cities from one another leaving thousands of families isolated with limited supplies of food and medicine. His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese would hereby like to make a plea to the faithful of the Diocese to contribute and extend a helping hand to those affected by the war in Lebanon. We urge the Armenian-American community in California and throughout the Western United States to show solidarity with the Armenian community of Lebanon – one of the largest Armenian communities remaining in the Middle East. Once again, the Armenian community in Lebanon is facing the challenge of survival and perseverance and it is our duty to take the necessary precautions to aid the Armenian community in Beirut and in other regions throughout Lebanon as the situation is becoming difficult day after day, with the threat of a humanitarian crisis looming. As we follow the developments in the next few days, we pray that the hostilities among fighting parties come to an end and the region as a whole embarks on a new era – one of a brighter future and lasting peace. We are certain that the faithful of the Diocese will heed to this call. You may send your contributions to the Western Diocese so that we in turn forward the collected sum via the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin — His Holiness Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, to the Catholicosate of Cilicia in Antelias, Lebanon. Checks can be made payable to: Western Diocese – Armenian Church — (In Memo: Lebanon victims) 3325 N. Glenoaks Blvd., Burbank, CA 91504 You may contact the Western Diocese at (818) 558-7474 for further information. Please visit www.armenianchurchwd.com for more information on the campaign to assist the Armenian community of Lebanon. July 20, 2006