Lebanon is devastated! Beirut, the capital, and its population have been shaken to the core! Two huge explosions at Beirut's port sent an enormous blast wave across the city, killing at least 137 people and injuring around 5,000 more. Hundreds have been reported missing, raising fears that the death toll will rise. The scale of the damage is huge, with buildings miles from the port lying in ruin. The horrific explosions have only exacerbated an already precarious situation the country is facing.
The massive blasts, which sent shockwaves across the city of Beirut, have caused enormous physical damage. Some buildings were reduced to the ground while others sustained damages such as shattered windows and broken doors. Rubble, shattered glass, and waste are filling the streets and obstructing people from reaching or inspecting their houses. Initial figures estimate that 300,000 people have been displaced from their houses. The disaster has further exacerbated Lebanon's economic crisis.
Jafra Foundation's volunteers have already been working tirelessly. Equipped with extensive experience in emergency settings, Jafra raises this appeal to widen its scope of assistance, and reach, by providing waste management, rubble removal and basic shelter rehabilitation to the most vulnerable. Jafra aims to rent trucks to remove the rubble and waste from blocked streets, and will hire experienced craftsmen and purchase basic rehabilitation material to rehabilitate affected houses.
The project will alleviate suffering and mitigate some of the destruction caused by the explosion. Waste management and rubble removal will facilitate access to houses and essential service facilities, such as hospitals, as will restore a clean environment. Shelter rehabilitation will render the houses of the most affected Lebanese population habitable once again thereby reinstating their safety and dignity.
