Five months after the massive explosion which killed some 2000 people and injured 7,000 more in Beirut, YMCA Lebanon is still helping to rebuild the lives of vulnerable people who lost almost everything in the blast.
The blast destroyed thousands of homes and buildings, leaving 300,000 people homeless and 15,000 businesses heavily affected.
YMCA Lebanon’s response focused on three activities: food security, shelter, and health. A team of 21 professionals and youth workers coordinated a concerted programme of ‘household recovery’.
Up to 70 YMCA volunteers came daily to the most affected zones, helping in picking up the rubble, cleaning and covering windows with plastic sheets. YMCA also provided home appliances to support families returning home: they distributed and installed 92 refrigerators, 51 gas cookers, 48 washing machines, as well as 237 water tanks.
As of December 2020, YMCA Lebanon had supported 444 vulnerable families affected by the explosion.
Mahboub and George: two lives restarted by YMCA Lebanon
More information
- Donate for Beirut
- Photo gallery: YMCA Lebanon at work in Beirut (photos YMCA Lebanon)
Previous web articles
- Beirut: working against time and weather (29 September 2020)
- Beirut: YMCA supporting families in coming back home (3 September 2020)
- Young people supporting their communities in Beirut (11 August 2020)
- YMCA Lebanon staff safe but in shock (5 August 2020)