Ways to Give: Beirut Explosion
Our hearts go out to the people of Beirut. After the explosion on Tuesday, August 4th, more than 100 people are feared dead, thousands injured, and many people are still missing.
The Texas Gulf Coast had a similar disastrous event in Texas City in 1947, when a ship loaded with ammonium nitrate (the same chemical in the Beirut explosion) exploded and destroyed much of the city, leaving hundreds dead and thousands injured. We who live in the area are especially empathetic to the destruction and emotional toll on the people of this beautiful and historic city.
We have assembled this list of charities that you may consider for donations to help with aid, recovery of survivors, and their ongoing needs. If we can assist with charitable grants from your Fidelity Charitable donor-advised fund, please email jsmalley@newcapitalmgmt.com.
The Lebanese Red Cross is the main provider of ambulance and medical first responders. Hundreds of LRC medical personnel are at the blast site, working triage stations and looking for survivors.
Impact Lebanon aims to enable the Lebanese community to mobilize more effectively; share knowledge, resources and expertise and make activism accessible, impactful and sustainable for the Lebanon diaspora. They are collecting donations to disperse to non-government organizations that require aid in the aftermath of the explosion in the capital of Lebanon.
IMC has launched an emergency response, coordinating closely with the government and other responders to quickly provide help to hospitals, and health facilities throughout the city. Teams are mobilizing urgently needed supplies and deploying mobile medical units to provide care to affected communities. IMC is also preparing to support mental health needs for those affected by this emergency - needs that are expected to grow significantly over time.
Prepared Child Protection teams are on standby to support families who have also been struggling due to the economic crisis and COVID. They deliver urgent food and hygiene supplies, provide psychological first aid to children and help reunite families. They further rehab homes destroyed and will distribute cash transfers for families struggling to cope.
The URDA Beirut Port Explosion Relief Fund is sending an emergency appeal to support people in Lebanon with medical supplies for the wounded, food parcels for those whose houses have been destroyed, medicine, and medical aid for the clinics and hospitals in dire need of assistance.