ADRA Lebanon office hit by explosion in Beirut

ADRA Slovakia announces a public collection to help Lebanon

A massive explosion on Tuesday, August 4, 2020 in Beirut, Lebanon, left dozens dead and thousands injured. ADRA Lebanon has an office in Beirut. In the immediate aftermath of the blast, we contacted our partners who assured us that all ADRA Lebanon staff were safe and no one was injured. An office about 3 km as the crow flies from the epicentre of the explosion in the port was also hit by a pressure wave that blew out windows, knocked down ceiling tiles and devastated the interior. The desk, at which Slovak humanitarian volunteer Anička Hruboňová was working not long ago, was covered with glass... It was fortunate that her mission was prematurely terminated after the outbreak of the pandemic and she returned back to Slovakia. ADRA Slovakia does not currently have any staff in Lebanon.

ADRA Slovakia announces a public collection for aid to Lebanon. You can contribute by sending money to the collection account SK48 0200 0000 0049 7524 1312 Variable symbol 035040 please specify in the note „Lebanon.“.

The funds raised will be used to provide urgent humanitarian aid in cooperation with our partner organisation ADRA Lebanon. The blast came just as we are preparing humanitarian aid for health workers in Lebanon who are struggling with COVID-19.

ADRA Slovakia, in cooperation with ADRA Lebanon, is currently working on the completion of a drinking water reservoir project in the Baalbek area, which will be commissioned shortly.

Lebanon is currently in a difficult situation as a result of the refugee crisis due to the war in Syria, political tensions, but also an economic crisis linked to the devaluation of the currency, which has also been undermined by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The tragic explosion in Beirut is likely to cripple shipping for some time, so the country is facing a very difficult time indeed. At the port, according to current reports, the explosion destroyed grain stocks and left more than 200 000 people homeless. Lebanon has been on the verge of bankruptcy for several months.

Thank you for your willingness to join in helping this country. We continue to monitor the current situation in Lebanon and coordinate our assistance with partners.

Here are some photos and a short video from the ADRA Lebanon office

[youtube_video] https://www.youtube.com/v/2_p0HSOntyk [/youtube_video]
[youtube_video] https://www.youtube.com/v/A3ECQfVJPbs [/youtube_video]
[youtube_video] https://www.youtube.com/v/rl-DHRLMATc [/youtube_video]