The Qur’an tells us, “Whoever saves a life, it is as if they have saved all of humanity” (5:32), so now it is up to us to do all we can in order to help save lives in Beirut and help heal the nation.
The Qur’an tells us, “Whoever saves a life, it is as if they have saved all of humanity” (5:32), so now it is up to us to do all we can in order to help save lives in Beirut and help heal the nation.
Widespread damage and devastation rocked Lebanon’s capital on Tuesday August 4th, 2020, as a catastrophic explosion erupted in a Beirut warehouse. The blast has killed at least 100 people and injured over 4,000 according to the Lebanese Health Minister, while hundreds have been reported missing. Lebanon has declared a state of emergency in the wake of the explosion, as they face a disaster the likes of which the country has never seen.
Officials speculate the root of the blast to be extremely explosive materials, more than 2,700 tons of ammonium nitrates, which were being stored in the warehouse where the explosion originated. This cataclysmic industrial disaster is currently being investigated by the government.
The Beirut blast has completely leveled large portions of the city near its main port, and the cost of the damage has been estimated to be well over $3 billion and rising. Hundreds of thousands of people have been made homeless in the blast and will be in dire need of financial support. After years of political issues, their recent struggles with controlling the spread of COVID-19, and the large refugee population they’re housing, this disaster leaves Lebanon on the razor’s edge of economic collapse.
Thousands of those who have been injured in the explosion are being rushed to hospitals in the area, several of which have suffered damage from the blast, but with limited beds doctors, nurses, and paramedics, have no choice but to treat some patients in triage areas. While the effects of this disaster rage on, touching the lives of millions, the threat of COVID-19 looms silently as overcrowded medical facilities continue to welcome injured survivors in for treatment.
The Lebanese Red Cross has issued an “urgent call” for blood donations of all blood types to help cater for the influx of patients in Beirut hospitals. The need for blood donations and other medical support is extremely pressing in Lebanon right now, and many countries are sending immediate emergency aid to help Beirut in their recovery process. One of the many organizations sending their support to Lebanon is the international humanitarian non-profit Penny Appeal.
Through their Lebanon Emergency appeal, Penny Appeal is raising funds in aid of those affected by the explosion in Beirut. Working closely with partners on the ground, Penny Appeal is delivering life-saving aid to the injured and aiding hospitals in their care of patients by supplying emergency medical assistance, blood supplies, and food packs.
You can save lives in Lebanon today with Penny Appeal by donating £10, £50, £100, or as much as you’d like towards emergency response. Your donations will go towards the care of more than 4,000 injured people, and provide hospitals with the support they need to treat their growing numbers.
The Qur’an tells us, “Whoever saves a life, it is as if they have saved all of humanity” (5:32), so now it is up to us to do all we can in order to help save lives in Beirut and help heal the nation. A donation to Penny Appeal’s Lebanon Emergency appeal is one way you can get involved and help the most vulnerable people in Lebanon recover from the devastating explosion that rocked Beirut.
If you would like to help provide emergency medical assistance and nutritional support to the injured in Beirut, visit Penny Appeal’s Lebanon Emergency page here to make a contribution.
To learn more about Penny Appeal, click here.
