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Statement of Solidarity for those affected by the tragic explosions in Lebanon
Our hearts are heavy after the massive explosion in Beirut, Lebanon, earlier this week. This comes at a particularly challenging time, as the country has faced severe political and financial crises over the last ten months, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic. Amidst all of that Lebanon continues to be, per capita, one of the largest refugee-hosting countries in the world.
We are grateful that our partners in Lebanon, our friends and colleagues there have checked in as safe. And we stand ready to support their immediate response needs as well as their recovery – as they rebuild their homes, businesses, schools and safe spaces, their city and communities and country. We stand with those who are Lebanese, Syrian and Palestinian; with the many women and men from other parts of the world who migrated to Lebanon for domestic work or other employment; with all those who call Beirut home.
The scale of this disaster is almost impossible to fathom, yet the imperative to stand in solidarity with those living in Lebanon will remain long after the crisis fades from the headlines. To support ongoing response efforts, we have collated a list of trusted responders below, including two of the leading women’s organizations in Lebanon, ABAAD and KAFA, with whom we have been proud to partner in work on behalf of survivors of violence. In every disaster, we have seen how women and girls are put at higher risk of violence and exploitative situations in order to survive. Supporting and listening to women’s rights organizations and service providers remains an essential part of this response. We urge you to read the statement by our sister organization, the Arab Institute for Women at the Lebanese American University: https://aiw.lau.edu.lb/news-events/aiw-updates/the-aiw-statement-of-lebanon-tra.php.
As possible within your means, we encourage you to follow the links below to donate, and spread the word so that others know how to help. We will update this list as new information and ways to support are shared with us.
The below organizations have been shared by our partners in Lebanon and/or are organizations that our staff have previous experience working with:
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The Lebanese Red Cross is the ambulatory and provider of first response services in Lebanon.
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Impact Lebanon works to efficiently and transparently put funding into the hands of trusted NGO partners inside Lebanon. Their due diligence includes partnering with 3QA, a third-party quality assurance organization based in Beirut.
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ABAAD is expanding its existing GBV response work to include crisis phone counselling and support services via phone and face-to-face as needed, and emergency hotlines. They will soon have a donation system set up, in the meantime those looking to donate can visit: https://www.abaadmena.org/documents/ebook.1584371403.pdf.
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KAFA is expanding their existing GBV and child protection services to include cash assistance and food packages for affected clients, with plans to enlarge these actions soon. They plan to have a donation function available on their website soon.
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Sadalsuud Foundation is a nonprofit organization that supports community building between Syrian refugee and Lebanese communities, through educational programs for girls as well as sustainable, income-generating activities for Syrian and Lebanese women. Their Mavia Bakery (IG: @maviabakery) is a small, women-run and operated social enterprise located in one of the hardest-hit neighborhoods. They are fundraising not only to rebuild the bakery and livelihoods of the women who work there, but also to be able to bake bread and other foods for those in Beirut who are now facing potential food shortages and hunger. Donations can be sent via PayPal to sadalsuudfoundation@gmail.com or via Venmo to sadalsuud-foundation.
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GWI is proud to partner, via CARE, with URDA on our Empowered Aid project and has seen their work for crisis-affected communities firsthand. This emergency appeal supports people in Lebanon with medical supplies for the wounded, food parcels for those whose houses have been destroyed, medicine, and medical aid for the clinics and hospitals in dire need of assistance. Learn more about URDA at urda-lb.org.
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Baytna Baytak is a social initiative launched primarily to secure housing for healthcare professionals working at the forefront of the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. In the wake of the tragic Beirut blast, Baytna Baytak has shifted its priority to relocating displaced individuals who have lost their homes to the blast. More than 300,000 Lebanese citizens need such assistance. You can donate through their Just Giving page, which is being managed by Impact Lebanon (whose other Just Giving page is listed above) and find out more on Baytna Baytak’s website: https://www.baytnabaytak.com.
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This aggregator site contains information, petitions, places to donate and volunteer, as well as resources including on blood donations, shelters, and locating victims. Of the Lebanese NGOs listed, our staff has previous experience working in partnership with many of them including Himaya, Basmeh & Zeitooneh, Caritas Lebanon & SOS Children's Village. International NGOs and UN organizations are also linked to here.
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GWI is proud to partner with CARE International in Lebanon on our Empowered Aid project and has seen their work for crisis-affected communities firsthand. In hundreds of places in crisis around the world, CARE is rapidly responding to emergency, disaster, and disease that are putting lives on the line. Donations will go to support their Beirut response among others.
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Global Women's Institute
2140 G Street, NW
Washington, DC 20052
Phone: 202-994-7177 | Fax: 202-994-2843
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