Donate to the Lebanese 2020 Beirut Explosion Appeal
2020 Explosion in Beirut, Lebanon
On 4 August 2020, two massive explosions in the port of Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, killed more than 200 people, injured thousands, and destroyed countless homes. The devastating catastrophe also destroyed 85 per cent of the food stock stored at the port – leaving an already vulnerable city in peril.
Families are in urgent need of shelter, food, and emergency supplies. CARE is on the ground in Lebanon and our teams have commenced a large-scale humanitarian response, distributing hot meals, food stocks, and shelter supplies to those made homeless by the explosions.
Since the explosion, cases of COVID-19 in Lebanon have quadrupled, but with almost half the city’s medical centres destroyed, treatment options are limited. The entire nation has been placed into lockdown to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Our lifesaving work is continuing throughout the lockdown, and we have already provided food to nearly 5,000 people.
But we still have so much more work to do.
Please donate now to support families devastated by the Beirut explosion.
The explosion left Beirut absolutely devastated. This video was captured shortly after the 2020 blast.
“We already thought we were going through the worst and yet… It’s a real nightmare. Beirut, already on the brink of the abyss, apparently found it on August 4, 2020.
With the Crisis, we were already struggling to cope with the scale of humanitarian needs.”
— CARE Lebanon Country Director Bujar Hoxha
Impact on families in Beirut
Following the explosion, hundreds of thousands of people lost everything and will need help. For several months, the country has suffered from a serious economic crisis, and while half of the population are living in poverty and encounter difficulties in feeding themselves, this disaster threatens to further darken the picture: the port of Beirut, beyond its economic importance, houses the majority of the country’s food reserves – 85% of which was destroyed in the blast.
In addition, the city’s hospitals are already overwhelmed by COVID cases which have tripled in the past month, or some have been damaged or destroyed by the explosion.
What help is needed in Lebanon?
The main priorities are food and shelter, as thousands of people have become homeless overnight. We are also very worried about hygiene and sanitation conditions in the aftermath, as in the last few days, cases of COVID-19 have increased as health facilities are overwhelmed, and more people are coming in contact with each other than before.
Providing hygiene products to households to try and help stem further waves of coronavirus on an already extremely vulnerable population is also a priority.
What is CARE doing?
CARE teams are hard at work to meet the most urgent needs – shelter, food – and support rebuilding efforts. Our immediate priority is to provide warm meals, shelter and cash assistance. Mental health support and hygiene kits will also be crucial in the coming days, weeks and months.
CARE Lebanon’s teams have already begun mobilising with a range of experts from shelter to social workers; with a particular emphasis on women and girls who are most vulnerable in these situations.
In the coming weeks we will also focus on providing hygiene products to households to try and help stem further waves of coronavirus on an already extremely vulnerable population.
How long has CARE been working in Lebanon?
CARE has been working in Lebanon since 2013, supporting Syrian refugees and Lebanese host communities affected by the Syria Crisis. CARE meets refugees’ and host communities’ most basic and pressing needs, mainly providing water, sanitation, hygiene, non-food items and cash assistance in the areas of Mount-Lebanon, North and South Lebanon.
Donate to Beirut & Lebanon Explosion Appeal by phone
Call 1800 020 046 toll free and pay by credit card.
Donations over $2 are tax deductible.
Should the funds raised through this emergency appeal exceed the amount required to meet the immediate and longer term needs of the people in the affected areas, or if changes in circumstances limit CARE’s ability to utilise all funds in the affected areas, CARE will direct funds to other emergency relief activities in Lebanon.
Monthly donations will go to emergency relief & preparedness activities where it is needed most.
