The harbour where the explosion was located is also the place where the nation’s biggest grain silo was located, which now can worsen the already bad food security situation in Lebanon. The News York Times reported that 17 containers with masks, gloves, gowns and other personal protective equipment got destroyed in the explosion as well. Even though the virus is pretty limited in Lebanon according to The New York times, the worst affected areas with high transmission were affected by the explosion. The WHO is working on sending new personal protection equipment to Lebanon.

The Lebanon economy was suffering before the explosion, a high unemployment rate as well as an ongoing inflation. The disaster is most likely going to make the economy even worse and they might face an economic crisis. 

The Lebanese Red Cross is the organization in charge of providing ambulance service in Lebanon, but the organization does not have enough funds. On their website they report that they only have the funds to respond to 20% of the emergency calls they receive. It’s free to get medical treatment from the Red Cross however, due to the lack of funding they are either too late or not capable to respond to 1 out of 5 of the emergencies. The organization also consists of volunteers who during weekdays have other jobs which they need to attend to be able to get money for their own families. 

Around 300 000 people have lost their homes, families have been separated and parents and kids have died. During a disaster, help organizations have around 24 hours to save kids and youths to end up in the hands of trafficking. The evil people in the world know when people are the most vulnerable and they are not afraid to use that vulnerability.

If you have the possibility please consider donating to at least one of these organizations to help them and those affected in this disaster. You do not need to donate a lot but every penny counts.

Lebanese Red Cross: https://www.supportlrc.app/donate/donate.html

International Committee of the Red Cross: https://www.icrc.org/en/support-us

Swedish Red Cross donation to Lebanon: https://www.rodakorset.se/vad-vi-gor/lander-vi-arbetar-i/libanon/explosion-i-beirut---roda-korset-ar-pa-plats/

Save the Children, Sweden: https://www.raddabarnen.se/stod-oss/gava/

Save the Children, UK: https://www.savethechildren.org.uk/how-you-can-help/emergencies/beirut-explosion