On 4.8.2020, a massive explosion in the Beirut port left more than 300,000 people without a safe home, with shattered doors and windows. After inspecting damages on site, Urban Network has decided to tackle the urgent waste management issue, the result of the deadly blast that hit Beirut. Focusing mainly on "Upcycling Wood", the initiative entitled "We Wood - Beirut", will rebuild homes and dreams, in collaboration with many different organizations and with the support of motivated volunteers.
After the blast that destroyed homes and ripped open walls, large quantities of scrap wood were thrown away during the cleanup. Through the "We Wood - Beirut" initiative, we seek to make the ultimate usage of these materials, by upcycling and reusing them for the benefit of the local community. The explosion's aftermath left most houses in Beirut open and unsafe. This is forcing people to stay up all night, taking shifts to protect their property as well as their community.
As an immediate emergency response, we see an urgent need to close doors and windows of the damaged buildings, in order to protect apartments from debris, theft, and the weather. Our primary target for this phase is to raise $20,000 in order to produce and restore a minimum of 20 doors/week, including woodworking; sorting; logistics and installation. The project is a partnership between Urban Network, main applicator on the ground, SHiFT and MEDS.
With our partners, a sustainable vision is being drafted in order to regenerate neighborhood and revitalize these destroyed places. A plan is under development to make use of all the leftover scrap wood and the traditional local carpentry. This upcycling approach will help in revitalizing streets, public spaces, and even homes. In the end, the purpose of our initiative is to encourage proper urban revitalization and regeneration, through adequate waste management solutions.
