What happened in Beirut?
Hundreds of deaths, 5 000 injured, 300 000 people without a roof over their heads.
These are the estimated human damages so far after the unfortunate massive explosion at the Port of Beirut on August 4, 2020, which devastated half the city. Lebanon has a bloody civil war and bombing in its recent history. But the explosion at the port is described by locals as the most devastating thing to ever hit their country.
What does Beirut look like after the explosion?
As the epicentre of the explosion is in the immediate vicinity of Beirut city centre, key parts of the city are completely destroyed. The huge pressure wave blew out the glass in the windows over a wide area and it is almost impossible to find a building in the whole of Beirut that has not been hit by the blast.
The total number of casualties is not yet known, but the death toll is believed to be in the hundreds. Many families are still searching for their relatives who were left stranded in the rubble around the port.
More than 5,000 people need medical treatment after sustaining injuries from flying splinters from broken windows and fractures from being struck by water. Four hospitals in Beirut were devastated in the blast, others are desperately overcrowded, lacking medical supplies, doctors and facilities to treat patients. As it is virtually impossible to take precautions against covid-19 in this situation, a high increase in positive cases is expected in the coming weeks.
At least temporarily, 300 000 people, virtually all of them living in the centre of Beirut, have lost the roof over their heads. Their houses have either been completely destroyed or the structure has been compromised and it is no longer safe to remain in them. These people have now found accommodation with relatives or in schools or churches, which are serving as temporary shelters. Almost every household within a 10km radius of the blast has been left without windows and is cleaning up the havoc left by the pressure wave.
The explosion at the port also destroyed the central silo and 85% of stored grain is degraded. The country faces acute food shortages in the coming weeks.
Why won't the state and the people of other cities help a devastated Beirut?
Material damage after the explosion is estimated at $5 billion (€4.2 billion). Lebanon fell into a severe economic recession last year and the country has been teetering on the brink of bankruptcy for several months. Then a pandemic brought the economy completely to its knees, many lost their jobs and 50% Lebanese now live below the poverty line. In addition, the country hosts around 1.5 million refugees from Syria, who are also largely surviving in extreme poverty. In the aftermath of the explosion, local people are very willing to help each other, but they lack the necessary funds.
How active is ADRA in Lebanon?
ADRA has a local office in Beirut. The office was hit by the blast as were all the buildings in the area - the pressure wave shattered windows and the ceiling partially collapsed. Fortunately, the staff escaped unharmed and began organising urgent humanitarian aid on the ground.
Following coordination meetings within the international ADRA network, we have currently identified three main areas where locals are in dire need of assistance:
1) Food aid. Around half of Lebanese families have been struggling with serious financial difficulties for many months. The explosion destroyed many factories, businesses and organisations, putting thousands more people out of work. In addition, there is a shortage of basic foodstuffs in the country and the threat of famine. ADRA will distribute essential food and drinking water to affected families.
2) Repair of damaged houses. There is perhaps not a single undamaged house left in Beirut. In order to make the affected houses habitable again, broken windows will need to be glazed and other repairs will be needed, which the local people cannot afford in the current situation. ADRA will help with the reconstruction of homes that have not been completely destroyed by the explosion and can be reoccupied once repaired.
3) Helping hospitals and medical teams. There is currently a critical shortage of medical supplies being reported from Lebanon, ranging from bandages and soothing medicines to drapes and protective gloves. ADRA will provide hospitals with the medical supplies necessary to save the lives of the wounded and to prevent the mass spread of coronavirus in these challenging conditions.
How does ADRA Slovakia help?
Lebanon has long been one of the countries where we have been systematically helping. We are currently completing a large reservoir project to provide drinking water in the Baalbek area in cooperation with ADRA Lebanon. Therefore, helping our partners in the Beirut disaster is now our number one priority.
ADRA Slovakia is actively involved in the coordination and provision of international humanitarian aid to Lebanon. We are in direct contact with our partners in Beirut who are distributing aid on the ground.
How can I help?
ADRA is organising a public collection to help the victims affected by the devastating explosions in Beirut. You can donate to the collection account.
Account number: SK48 0200 0000 0049 7524 1312
Variable symbol: 035040
Remark: Lebanon
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