We all know that a catastrophic explosion occurred in Beirut that terribly impacted the lives of thousands in the Lebanese capital. There are initiatives helping that you can donate to, social media pages that are helping locate victims and people offering shelter to survivors whose homes have been decimated as a result of the explosion. More recently, Egypt’s government has sent aid and the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that the Egyptian Field Hospital in Beirut is ready to offer all the help they can.
What Is Happening?
The Aftermath of the Devastating Explosion
Last Tuesday, on August 4 , a colossal explosion shook up the port of Beirut, Lebanon. According to Lebanon’s Red Cross, at least 135 people died because of the explosion and more than 4,000 were injured. Videos circulating online showed a fire that gradually spread to a nearby building and causing the devastating explosion that sent up a mushroom cloud and generated a shock wave.
“Hospitals couldn’t accept more injuries and bodies because they were full. Beirut is a destroyed city. It is like a real war zone,” reported CBS News producer Sami Aouad according to CBS. Sadly, numerous apartment buildings were destroyed from the blast, leaving as many as 300,000 people homeless, the Beirut’s, Marwan Abboud, said.
The Cause
Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab stated that the reason for the warehouse’s gigantic explosion was 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate (typically used as an agricultural fertilizer). They were stored without the appropriate safety measures, according to Diab.
Evidence of Corruption
Six years ago, the 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate reached Beirut’s Port via a Russian-owned cargo ship that made an unscheduled stop at the capital. From 2014 to 2017, Lebanese custom officials communicated inquiries on how to dispose of the extremely flammable chemical, according to public records shared by Lebanese lawmaker, Salim Aoun.
Alongside those inquiries were suggestions by the officials to donate the ammonium nitrate to the Lebanese Army and export them. The said letters, however, remained without a response from the Lebanese government according to what the records suggest.
According to the New York Times, Hassan Koraytem, the general manager of Beirut port, confirmed the above in an interview last Wednesday. In that interview, he said, “We were told the cargo would be sold in an auction, but the auction never happened and the judiciary never acted.”
What Is Egypt Doing to Help?
Shortly after the explosion, statements from Egypt’s government expressed condolences and wishes fora speedy recovery to everyone affected by the horrendous explosion. Today, Egypt started taking more actions.
The Egyptian government sent airplanes with medical aid to Beirut shortly after the massive explosion.
The Egyptian government, according to Extra News, sent two airplanes with medical aid to Beirut today, on August 5. At the same time, Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared that the Egyptian Field Hospital in Beirut is ready to offer all the support it could and take in as much cases as possible, and has already been doing so since Tuesday, according to the aforementioned source.
Egypt’s Ambassador to Lebanon Dr Yasser Elwi (left) during his visit to the Egyptian field hospital in Beirut (Photo courtesy of Egyptian Embassy in Lebanon).
What Can You Do to Help If You Don’t Live in Lebanon?
Donate!
The following organizations and NGOs are all helping those affected by the deadly blast.
- Head here for credible links to various NGOs in Lebanon.
- Mersal Foundation are sending support and medical aid to survivors and can accept your donations here.
- The Lebanese Red Cross is under immense pressure and they’re doing tremendous work on the ground right now, head here to help them with a donation.
- By clicking on this link (on Arab.org), and without spending any money, you can donate 1 Lebanese Lira. This money comes from the advertising you watch for a few seconds on the website. Click everyday and share it with your friends.
- Islamic Relief UK is a fund launch back in 1984 and is helping survivors. Donate to them here.
- The Union of Relief and Development Associations is another relief fund that reportedly does great work in Lebanon and Syria. You can donate to them here.
- The Lebanese Food Bank is providing food and essential supplies to survivors and people affected by the explosion. You can donate to them here.
- Impact Lebanon, a non-profit social incubator is attempting $5 million through crowdfunding. Help them out here.
- Present on-ground with volunteers, Live Love Beirut are collecting donations here to help them provide crisis relief.
- Beit El Baraka will be providing housing, food assistance and medical support for the capital’s elderly and you can help them out with a donation here.
- The Lebanese mental health non-profit, Embrace Lebanon, operates a volunteer-run hotline. You can donate to them here.
Spread the Word
Support these social media accounts and help them reach more people. Tell your friends, family and acquaintances, especially in Lebanon, to spread the word.
- Locating Victims is helping victims of the explosion who are out of reach to connect with their families and loved ones.
- Open Houses Lebanon is striving to provide houses for people in need in Lebanon during the explosion.
Let us each do our best to help the city of Beirut and its residents recover from this terrible catastrophe.
