last updated 08/05/2020_12:15P
On Tuesday, August 4, a large stockpile of explosive materials that had been seized and stored by the government in 2014 exploded in the capital of Lebanon.
More than 75 people are dead. Over 4,000 are injured. An estimated 300,000 have been displaced. These numbers will only increase.
For background context, Lebanon is already facing a collapse of its currency, deepening political unrest, a worsening economic crisis, and the coronavirus pandemic. If you can help, now is the time.
“Let us do something, while we have the chance! It is not every day that we are needed.”
Samuel Beckett
(Waiting for Godot)
Table of Contents:
[Donate -- money for relief/aid efforts]
[Donate -- mental health resources]
[Donate -- blood]
[Donate -- money for relief/aid efforts]
* Lebanese Red Cross: the country’s main provider of ambulances (>300 ambulances, >3,000 EMTs)
* donate money here -- try not to donate in the local currency because it could weaken the value due to the current economic situation in the country -- donate in $ instead!
* British Red Cross: set up an emergency appeal to raise money for aid in Beirut, working with the Lebanese Red Cross
* donate money here
* Impact Lebanon: set up a fundraising page on JustGiving with a £5m goal, they are coordinating with NGOs that need aid in the aftermath
* donate money here
* Beit el Baraka: non-profit offering aid to families/elderly people in Lebanon who are struggling to make ends meet. Their immediate goal is to help fix the homes of families that were damaged as a result of the blast
* donate money here
* Beirut Blast Victims Relief Fund: GoFundMe that will transfer raised money to “reputable” NGOs to go towards purchasing food, water, first aid, and meal boxes as well as providing shelter and medical supplies and paying for medical bills and home repairs.
* donate money here
* Islamic Relief: charity offering international aid. Donations will go towards providing food and water supplies and debris clean-up.
* donate money here
* Live Love Beirut: social impact organization providing direct relief to the victims and the Beirut NGOs working on the ground (they have authenticated non-profits who will receive the donations, and members of the public can submit their own initiative suggestions)
* donate money here
* UnicefUSA: they have staff on the ground in Beirut that are “helping authorities assess urgently needed medical and vaccine supplies and rushing drinking water to rescue workers at the Beirut port.”
* donate money here
* Local NGOs: check out this .carrd with links to local NGOs
* Humanity and Inclusion: they have had teams in Lebanon since 1992, most recently aiding Syrian refugees (focuses on disabilities, serious, conflict-related injuries, chronic illnesses, and the effects of aging). They have a 100-person team in Lebanon of physical therapists, psycho-social, and livelihood experts, who are leading their response. Post-surgical physical therapy is one of their specific actions.
* donate money here
* International Medical Corps: a global, humanitarian, non-profit focused on health care training, relief, and development programs. Their goal is to build local capacity and self-reliance, versus taking over situations on the ground.
* donate money here
[Donate -- mental health resources]
* Embrace Lifeline: a helpline that provides mental health support in Lebanon (helpline on 1564)
* donate money here
[Donate -- blood]
* Lebanese Red Cross: the country’s main provider of ambulances (>300 ambulances, >3,000 EMTs)
* donate blood -- plea for blood donations at Red Cross blood transfusion centers (Tripoli, Jounieh, Antelias, Spears, Zahle, Saida, Nabatieh)
* Donner Sang Compter: organization promoting blood donation in Lebanon, they set up blood drives and offer a 24/7 call center
* donate blood
* donate money to them
If you have anything worth adding, please DM me on IG (@sarahgilman18) or on Twitter (@sarahbgilman). I will continue to update.
Sources:
* Sabrina Barr for the Independent
* CNN
* NY Times
Last edit: 6/6/2020