Donate to Beirut: How to help Lebanon recover after devastating explosion

Beirut is reeling from a massive explosion which hit on Tuesday, causing widespread devastation to the city. Up to a quarter of a million residents have been left with homes not fit to live in, with buildings decimated in the powerful explosion and subsequent shock wave.

The explosion came from a warehouse near the port in Beirut, where it has since been revealed an explosive chemical had been stored.

President Michael Aoun said in an address to the nation on Wednesday, 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate had been stored for six years at the port after being seized.

Ammonium nitrate is used in fertilisers and explosives and is believed to have been improperly stored – triggering the devastating explosion after a fire broke out in one of the warehouses.

President Aoun said: “No words can describe the horror that has hit Beirut last night, turning it into a disaster-stricken city.”

Read More: Beirut explosion pictures: Staggering damage caused by deadly blast

Donate to Beirut: Aid workers walking through rubble

Donate to Beirut: Charities are working to help those impacted by the devastating explosion (Image: GETTY)

He said the government was “determined to investigate and expose what happened as soon as possible, to hold the responsible and the negligent accountable.”

How to help Lebanon recover after the devastating explosion

The explosion hit Lebanon at a time the country had already been reeling from an economic crisis and fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.

Now, the damage from the explosion is estimated to be about $3bn.

Donate to Beirut: Helicopter putting out fire

Donate to Beirut: The explosion came after a fire broke out in a warehouse in Beirut (Image: PA)

Photos show the devastating impact on the city, with buildings crumbled to the ground, residents desperately searching for loved ones and debris littering the streets.

Volunteers are continuing to dig through the rubble to locate those missing, with the death toll expected to rise in the coming days.

There are a number of ways you can donate to help recovery in Beirut and to provide resources for those on the ground.

Express.co.uk has rounded up ways you can donate below.

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Lebanese Red Cross

One of the main providers of ambulance services in the country is the Lebanese Red Cross.

The charity has said it will send every ambulance from North Lebanon, Bekaa and South Lebanon to Beirut to treat the wounded and help in search-and-rescue operations.

If you want to donate to the Lebanese Red Cross, you can do so by clicking here. 

Donate to Beirut: Debris and destroyed buildings

Donate to Beirut: The devastating explosion has reduced buildings to rubble (Image: GETTY)

Baytna Baytak

Baytna Baytak is a charity which has been providing free housing to health care workers during the coronavirus pandemic.

Now, the charity has pledged to raise money alongside Impact Lebanon to help the more than 300,000 who have been displaced due to the explosion.

Beirut’s governor has said half the city’s population have homes that are “unlivable for the foreseeable future.”

You can donate via the official JustGiving page here. 

Donate to Beirut: First aid worker

Donate to Beirut: Aid workers are helping those injured and displaced after the blast (Image: PA)

Project HOPE

Project HOPE is a leading global health and humanitarian organisation and has mobilised its emergency response team following the explosion.

Experts are travelling to Beirut to help support the relief effort by bringing in medical supplies, protective gear, and other assistance which is needed.

You can donate to Project Hope via their website here.

Health care or other professionals can also volunteer with Project HOPE, you can learn more here.

Donate to Beirut: Children holding candles

Donate to Beirut: Three days of national mourning have been declared (Image: GETTY)

Impact Lebanon

Non-profit organisation Impact Lebanon has launched a crowdfunding campaign to help those responding to the situation in Beirut.

Impact Lebanon is also helping to share information about those missing after the explosion.

So far more than £4million has been raised, and the organisation donated the first £100,000 to the Lebanese Red Cross.

You can donate via the official JustGiving page here.

Donate to Beirut: Aerial view of Beirut explosion

Donate to Beirut: The explosion happened at a warehouse near the city’s port (Image: PA)

Impact your world

CNN has launched a crowdfunding page for those impacted by Beirut explosion.

There are six organisations which will benefit from donations, including

  • The American Red Cross
  • CARE – Cooperative For Assistance And Relief Everywhere
  • Humanity and Inclusion
  • International Medical Corps
  • Save the Children Federation
  • United States Fund for UNICEF

You can donate on Impact Your World’s page here.

Donate to Beirut: Workers transferring aid

Donate to Beirut: Aid has been sent to Lebanon from around the world (Image: GETTY)

How are other countries responding?

Offers of aid have been coming thick and fast from around the world since the explosion struck.

Gulf Arab states, who in the past were major financial supporters of Lebanon but recently stepped back because of what they say is Iranian meddling, sent planes with medical equipment and other supplies.

Turkey said it would send 20 doctors to help treat the injured, as well as medical and relief assistance. Iraq pledged fuel aid, while Iran offered food and a field hospital.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei tweeted: “We sympathize with the dear Lebanese citizens and stand by them in the painful tragedy of the Beirut port explosion …

“Patience in the face of this incident will be a golden leaf of honour for Lebanon.”

The United States, Britain and other Western nations, which have been demanding political and economic change in Lebanon, also offered aid.

Germany, the Netherlands and Cyprus offered specialised search and rescue teams.

Two French planes are expected to arrive with specialist rescue personnel and equipment, and President Emmanuel Macron is due to visit today.

source: express.co.uk