The scale of what is happening in Lebanon is almost impossible to comprehend from a distance. Israel has ordered the evacuation of around nine square miles of the Lebanese capital Beirut — an area described by Christian Aid's Head of Middle East Policy and Advocacy, William Bell, as "roughly the size of Windsor." Further evacuation orders in southern Lebanon amount to around one sixth of the entire country.

Since Israeli air strikes began at the start of March, more than 600 people have been killed and over 800,000 people have fled their homes. More than 100,000 people have ended up in overcrowded shelters. Too many have had no choice but to sleep rough or stay in makeshift tents.

Christian Aid is calling for an immediate ceasefire. Its local partners — churches and Christian organisations already embedded in Lebanese communities — have opened their doors to families in need, providing emergency shelter, food, and practical support in extraordinarily difficult circumstances.

William Bell's words are worth sitting with: "Imagine an area roughly the size of Windsor being ordered to evacuate because every building is at risk of being hit by an Israeli air strike. That's the reality facing hundreds of thousands of people living in southern Lebanon right now." For UK Christians, this is a call to pray, to give, and to add our voices to the call for peace.

Find out more and donate at christianaid.org.uk.