Lebanon Disaster Response
Lebanon Disaster Response
Impact of Beirut blast
- 4 August – a fire and two explosions in the Port of Beirut
- 200+ people killed; several missing (as of 11/08/2020)
- ±6,000 injured
- ±300,000 homeless
- Estimated damage to infrastructure, homes, and vehicles $10-15 billion
- Damage to port (including main grain silos) will exacerbate food insecurity; estimated 1 month’s grain supply remaining
- Structural damage to 3 major hospitals either partially or completely; health facilities in city only 44% operational
- 120 schools damaged; 50,000 school-going children affected
Background
- Lebanon is currently in a vulnerable and dysfunctional political state – Lebanon’s prime minister announced government’s resignation on Monday (10 Aug) – will function as caretaker government until new cabinet formed.
- Hosts largest number of refugees per capita in world
- Religious representation – Christianity 33.7% and Muslim 66.1% (even split Shia/Sunni Muslims)
- Struggling to contain spread of COVID-19
- Spiraling economic crisis:
- 25% unemployed
- 33% below poverty line
- Lebanese pound lost 80% of value in past 10 months
- Anti-government protests started October 2019 due to government’s failure to provide basic services such as safe drinking water, adequate healthcare, and decent internet connections
- Serious allegations of corruption in government; protests erupted again after the explosion
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
INcontext and the CRN are partnering with a local congregation in Lebanon to help address peoples’ immediate needs:
- clean drinking water, food, and accommodation
- with winter approaching, there is a limited time frame to assist with housing repairs – the congregation will, therefore, open a workshop for repairs, renovations of damaged properties, doors, windows, furniture & vehicles
Your donation will be channelled to those on the ground so they can serve the people in the ways mentioned above.
We invite YOU to be part of this unique opportunity!
