Beirut Emergency Relief
On August 4, 2020 a huge explosion rocked Beirut, Lebanon’s capital, crushing the port and the entire surrounding residential and commercial neighborhoods on top of its inhabitants, causing widespread casualties and material damage. 190 people are dead, more than 6,500 are wounded, and 3 innocent souls are still missing under the rubble. Over 300,000 left displaced and homeless, with billions of dollars in damage.
This tragedy, in conjunction with the dire economic crisis (over 50% of the population under the line of poverty) and the COVID-19 pandemic still wildly spreading, has driven the René Moawad Foundation to lead a much-needed emergency response initiative. Our interventions aim at alleviating pain and enabling aid on many fronts.
We are launching, effective immediately, multiple initiatives in an effort to contribute to the relief and emergency response measures. With the solidarity of RMF staff and volunteers from the public, we will be providing livelihood assistance, including distribution of food and hygiene kits and others, providing basic needs for people inside the shelters. We will be providing health care services through our mobile clinics where doctors and nurses will be available, in addition to providing medical supplies to hospitals and medical centers. Additionally, we will be providing free psychosocial sessions to traumatized children and adults.
We already launched rehabilitation intervention in parts of the disaster area, which includes cleaning up the streets from the post-explosion debris, and will be followed with assessing the damage level of affected homes and neighborhoods and helping residents and shop owners cover/secure their homes and stores. In addition, we will be supporting the small businesses entrepreneurs.
We are calling on everyone. Those who love Lebanon, or those who had never heard of our little beautiful country before this tragedy – those affected directly, and those who have seen the massive destruction on TV or their social media. Children, families, elderly need you. Homes, hospitals need you. Please do not look away. We count on your generous donation, today more than ever – through financial donations or in-kind. Together we will make a difference. Together we will overcome.