Beirut Report 9 0 - DAY PA R T N E R U P DAT E
Lebanon remains at the forefront of one of the worst humanitarian crises of our time. On August 4, 2020, two massive explosions that occurred in Beirut’s port resulted in enormous damage to buildings and infrastructure across the capital. As of August 13, the explosions had resulted in the death of 178 individuals, injuring over 6,000 others, and an additional 30 missing. The explosion caused widespread damage, destroying major grain silos, damaging 6 hospitals and 20 health centers. Over 300,000 were temporarily homeless as glass was blown out of all windows in over 6,600 apartment buildings and homes. The explosion has added a new layer to the existing economic crisis in Lebanon, leaving thousands in need of humanitarian assistance. We can confirm that the port explosion has also resulted in unemployment, a devaluation of the Lebanese pound (LBP) by 80%, inflation, loss of purchasing power, and increased food insecurity. The U.N. has confirmed the ongoing crisis, coupled with the rising numbers of COVID-19 cases, will lead to even more Lebanese and refugee families falling into extreme poverty. They risk having to employ negative coping mechanisms, such as child labor, child marriage, dropping out of school, exploitation, and abuse. BEIRUT EXPLOSION – 178 deaths – 6,000 injured – 30 missing – 300,000 homeless TEARFUND’S RESPONSE – 1,000 vulnerable households are receiving monthly food assistance.
FOOD INSECURITY – 50% of Beirut citizens did not have enough to eat last month – 1.5 million Syrian refugees are in Lebanon, 75% of these refugees did not have enough food to eat last month – 910,000 people, including 564,000 children, do not have access to basic essentials like food and clean water
Our Response Since 2017, Tearfund has been working in the Bekka Valley of eastern Lebanon to bring critical medical services to the Syrian refugee community. Now, we are also providing assistance to the most vulnerable in the Greater Beirut Area. Thanks to your generous support, we are partnering with Tearfund UK and World Renew in a multi-million dollar relief effort to provide emergency assistance to those affected by the explosion. Tearfund is working through a network of local churches to provide food to 1,000 vulnerable households until March 2021. Approximately 70% of these are Syrian refugees.
YOU ARE HELPING TEARFUND PROVIDE MONTHLY FOOD ASSISTANCE WHICH INCLUDES:
105 kg of grain, 11 kg of beans, 6 litres of vegetable oil, and 1 kg of iodized salt per month. The quantities are based on best practice humanitarian standards that provide an individual with 2,100 calories per day.
The Beneficiaries 70% of Tearfund’s program beneficiaries are directly affected by the explosion in Beirut. The remaining 30% of beneficiaries are vulnerable households—including Lebanese, Syrian refugees, and migrant domestic workers experiencing substantial food insecurity across the Greater Beirut area. With your support, Tearfund is serving where the need is greatest in Beirut. Households that are receiving food assistance include the following:
• Individuals whose apartments or homes have been damaged or destroyed • Individuals whose businesses have been damaged or destroyed • Households with one or more injured members • Female-headed households, in which her husband was killed, is missing or absent • Family has member with disability or elderly members (aged 60 or above) • Child-headed households (under the age of 18)
We will keep you updated as this disaster response progresses. THANK YOU FOR YOUR GIFT! For more information or to continue giving to this response please contact:
Roshani Morton, Partnership Director | 905-415-8181 ext. 203 | rmorton@tearfund.ca