Tuesday, August 4, 2020, at 6:08 PM marked a catastrophe in Lebanon's capital - Beirut. A massive warehouse explosion at the port, devastated many parts of the city Beirut, killing at least 170 people and injuring more than 4,000 with more than 1oo people still unaccounted for. The shock wave was heard and felt across the whole country from North to South reaching neighboring countries such as Syria and Cyprus.
What are the reasons that led to the explosion - What happened? The explosion that took place at the port warehouse happened due to the presence of high explosive and chemical materials - it is marked to be the utmost intense ever in Beirut. President Michel Aoun added:”2,700 tons of ammonium nitrate, used in fertilizers and bombs, had been stored for six years at the port without safety measures".
The reasons behind the explosion are still ambiguous, however, investigations are still ongoing. official news confirms the start of a fire after which fire-works were called to extinguish. After minutes, the devastating catastrophe happened and the fire-workers in addition to hundreds and thousands were injured and killed, and physical damage covers the radius of Beirut city, reaching its suburbs Glass, doors, windows, cars, and inside houses are severely damaged, making them inhabitable. Thousands of families abandoned their badly damaged homes. From which some spent the night at friends, relatives, and empty schools whereas others still are recorded as homeless.
Hospitals all over Beirut are fully occupied asking the ambulances to take the injured ones to hospitals located at the capital's suburbs. Doctors have been witnessed treating wounded citizens in nearby streets and parking under cell phone lights. People shedding blood were seen rushing and screaming for aid in clouds of smoke and dust in streets littered with damaged buildings, flying wreckage, and destroyed cars.
The smoke from the blast contains lots of toxic particles and gases. The most dangerous are the fine particles that cannot be stopped by regular masks and the gases like No2 and all its organic derivatives that will linger and react in the air for a while. Hence, urging people to leave Beirut to stay safe for such toxic gases. A bomb adding to the already present health and economic crisis!
SPF was the first to support and they mobilized 100,00 euros in response to the devasting explosion in Beirut. DPNA, in collaboration with Secours Populaire, Tajamoh Platform in Saida and Saida's Municipality have divided their resources into teams that are supporting the cleaning and food distribution campaigns in Beirut, as well as the fundraising and donation collections which consist of clothes, food, mattresses, and pillows in Saida.
Fire Station - Rehabilitation
DPNA and Secoure Populaire Francais took the initiative of helping in rehabilitating the Fire station at Beirut that was massively damaged due to the explosion that occurred. Until now DPNA has contributed to the following:
- Installing a false ceiling in the medical room
- Painted two doors in the operating room
- Installing a wood door and molding it in the office of the head of the sector
- Installing two glass shutters in the firefighters ’break room
- Installing two glass shutters in the operating room
- Painting the doors of the center's room and fixing door handles
- Installing the sink and shelves in the military's break room
- Installation of curtains in the operating room
- Installation of a board plate for the martyrs that fell during the explosion
Food Distribution - Beirut
In partnership with Secours Populaire and Action Humanitaire France, we reached out to affected families in Beirut to ensure that they receive their basic needs of food parcels.
DPNA managed to distribute more than 2300 boxes in Beirut.
