Maarouf Saad Social & Cultural Foundation

(MSSCF) is a non-governmental, secular association that works through a wide range of networks of civil society organizations (CSOs) to meet the needs of the local community on the basis of sustainable development. MSSCF was established in 1980 and relies on its staff and volunteers to accomplish its vision and mission.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

A large explosion rocked Beirut port Tuesday afternoon, killing more than 160 and injuring over 6000, according to Lebanese authorities.

The toll from the Lebanese Health Ministry on August 06, 2020 puts the number of dead at 170 and more than 6,000 wounded and 43 reported missing, but the toll is not final and there are dozens still missing.

Debris and glass covered the streets of Downtown Beirut. Cars and building windows were shattered. Electricity was completely shut off along Beirut’s Gemmayze, Mar Mikhael and Karantina which suffered heavy damage to homes and properties.

Even several hospitals were affected and even some were evacuated of patients (including corona affected patients).

Rescue workers dug through the rubble overnight looking for survivors of the massive explosion that devastated many parts of Beirut.

The explosion flattened the port and its immediate surroundings. It flipped nearby cars and ripped through tough iron barriers put in place previously to protect banks and high-end businesses during large anti-corruption protests.

Beirut is still coming to terms with the sheer magnitude of destruction set off by Tuesday’s monster blast at the port. Streets are strewn with shattered glass, mangled storefronts, smashed up cars, splintered trees. Building exteriors are ravaged, beams and shutters twisted out of shape, metal frames dangling in mid-air.

FIRST RESPONSE

The cleanup operation following the catastrophic explosion in Beirut port began almost as quickly as the blast itself.

Hundreds of young Lebanese started sweeping debris in the absolute absence of any official state-sponsored cleanup operation following a deadly blast.

A few civil defense workers could be seen examining building structures but they were vastly outnumbered by young volunteers flooding the streets to help.

Others clambered up debris-strewn stairwells to offer their homes to residents who had spent the previous night in the open air.

Towns across the country have offered to host Beirut families with damaged homes.

Food was quickly taken care of, too: plastic tables loaded with donated water bottles, sandwiches and snacks were set up within hours.

In first response to the devastating explosion, and following its mission to make positive change through interaction and participation of people on a local and a regional level, MSSCF, rushed to the rescue with its limited resources in collaboration of the NGO platform in Saida.

With its INKAZ team and volunteers, MSSCF went to the explosion site to assist in the search and rescue in collaboration with the Red Cross, in addition to the rubble lifting from the streets.

Our volunteers insured water, bread and basic nourishments to the displaced people in Beirut.

URGENT CALL

MSSCF is calling upon local and international community to increase the humanitarian aid to Lebanon at a time where the country is already suffering from a severe economic crisis, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are ready to provide medical assistance through our INKAZ team, as well as psychosocial intervention in addition to food packs and water for all those, who are the most harmed from the explosion, left without homes.

We urgently need your assistance to give back hope to our beloved people in Lebanon.