More Than Thoughts and Prayers, here’s how you can actually help the victims in Lebanon.

Mohamed Eltayeb

Throughout this year, the world has been bombarded by tragic events, yet when tragedy occurs, we have to do better than tweet out “thoughts and prayers.”

A catastrophic explosion occurred in the Lebanese capital of Beirut on Tuesday. According to Lebanon’s health minister, the blast killed at least 137 and wounded more than 5,000. The death toll will likely rise as the search for victims continues. Lebanon is in the midst of a severe economic and environmental crisis. Its currency tumbles to a record low, and deserted trash continues to ruin its natural environment and pollute its public water. Throughout this year, the world has been bombarded by tragic events, yet when tragedy occurs, we have to do better than tweet out “thoughts and prayers.”

HOW TO HELP

Lebanese Red Cross

The Lebanese Red Cross is the main provider of ambulance services in Lebanon; Our 3000 emergency medical technicians and 300+ ambulances respond to more than 140,000 emergencies and patient transports per year.

Impact Lebanon

A nonprofit organization, has set up a crowdfunding campaign to help organizations on the ground, and is helping to share information about people still missing after the explosion.

LIFE’s Emergency Relief Fund

Money raised will go to several organizations, including grassroots and established non-profits, to provide essential humanitarian and medical aid

Support Saint George Hospital University Medical Center

Saint George Hospital University Medical Center, also known as Al Roum Hospital, is the oldest Lebanese hospital founded in 1878. It sustained severe damages from the recent explosion and has been at the forefront of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Humanity & Inclusion

Humanity & Inclusion teams have worked in Lebanon since 1992, most recently in aid of Syrian refugees, especially those with disabilities, serious, conflict-related injuries, chronic illnesses, and the effects of aging.

International Medical Corps

International Medical Corps provides emergency relief to those struck by disaster, no matter where they are, no matter what the conditions, working with them to recover, rebuild, and gain the skills and tools required for self-reliance.

UNICEF

UNICEF staff are on the ground, helping authorities assess urgently needed medical and vaccine supplies, rushing bottles of water to first responders and residents in the Beirut port area and working with child protection colleagues to reunite children separated from their families and provide counseling to children traumatized by this latest catastrophe. 

Islamic Relief

Islamic Relief has been working in Lebanon since 2006 in response to a humanitarian crisis caused by war. Focused on reconstruction efforts like hospital rehabilitation and water facility repairs

Project Hope

From Puerto Rico to Ethiopia, Project HOPE teams are at work around the world, responding to crises, helping people overcome diseases, and empowering health workers with the training and tools they need to save more lives. 

Beit Al Baraka

 A non-profit organization established in Beirut in 2018, and recognized by the Lebanese state by virtue of Decree No 2277.

Ahla Fawda

A Lebanese based non-profit organization, has launched an emergency fundraising campaign in collaboration with the NGO FARD to collect donations for victims of the Beirut blast. 

Live Love Beirut

For the next 3 months so far, LLB has decided to dedicate their crisis relief fund to support NGOs helping the people of Beirut recover from the severe damage the explosion caused. They have vetted a list of NGOs on the ground who the funds will go to. 

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontiéres

Médecins Sans Frontières, sometimes rendered in English as Doctors Without Borders, is an international humanitarian medical non-governmental organization of French origin best known for its projects in conflict zones and in countries affected by endemic diseases

Donner Sang Compter

DSC is a non-governmental, non-profit organization founded on the principles of empathy, compassion, humility, and sacrifice. We are not politically aligned. We are not religiously affiliated. Our only commitment is to humanity. DSC links patients in need of blood donations and those who are willing to donate.

Lebanon’s Children Relief Fund

Commonly known as Save the Children was established in the United Kingdom in 1919 to improve the lives of children through better education, health care, and economic opportunities, as well as providing emergency aid in natural disasters, war, and other conflicts

Caritas Lebanon

Caritas Lebanon, the common official socio-pastoral arm of the local Catholic Church in service of the poor and the promotion of love, charity and justice, provides economic development, livelihoods, health and social care, education, migration services, emergency and crisis intervention, human and humanitarian relief and aid, environmental stewardship, as well as advocacy and protection for all individuals and groups of people in need.

Lebanese Food Bank

Non-governmental organization in Lebanon that helps feed the needy, elderly and the disabled.

For Americans, write to your congressional representatives urging Congress to send aid to Lebanon. 

To contact Mohamed Eltayeb, (therealeltayeb@gmail.com) / (Twitter

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