THE PEOPLE OF LEBANON
NEED YOUR HELP
Beirut blast heaps further devastation on a country
at breaking point
A massive explosion at Lebanon’s main port has rocked Beirut, overwhelming hospitals dealing with the injured and dying.
The explosion comes at a terrible time for a country already suffering an economic collapse and the impact of a global pandemic.
We are on the ground – but we need all the help we can get to save lives.
The devastating blast, which ripped through the city on Tuesday 4 August, has killed more than 150 people – and the number of fatalities continues to rise. So far, approximately 5,000 people have been injured and 300,000 have been left homeless.
Even before the blast, Lebanon was at breaking point, with people struggling to cope with multiple, complex crises of economic collapse and a global pandemic.
The scale and magnitude of the disaster means hundreds of thousands of people now need immediate aid including food, shelter, water, fuel, protection, as well as support to rebuild their lives and livelihoods well into the future.
Bachir Ayoub, our colleague on the ground, said this “crisis on crises” creates huge challenges for people in Lebanon for years to come:
“Lebanon was already struggling to cope. The economy has been in a tailspin, the local currency has lost approximately 80 percent of its value, and the last month has seen a dramatic increase in coronavirus cases with hospitals already under pressure.
“People whose homes have been damaged or completely destroyed will not be able to access their money to start to repair or rebuild, and essential items like wheat and medicine will soon be scarce, as the Port of Beirut, the major storage and supply point, has been obliterated. A massive effort will be required to recover.
“The devastation in Beirut is unimaginable, and the road to recovery will be long and hard. Like all of Beirut, Oxfam staff have been affected. Some have had homes completely destroyed, others have sustained injuries. Thankfully, all are safe. We stand in solidarity with all have been affected as we work together to rebuild.”
Photo: Hassan Ammar/AP/Shutterstock
Photo: Hassan Ammar/AP/Shutterstock
We are working with local partners to assess how we can help those who have lost their homes and livelihoods.
We will be supporting people with water, sanitation and hygiene as well as cash assistance and emergency shelter.
But we desperately need your help to reach everyone who needs ours.
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