One Big Thing: Support the People of Beirut

What is it?

• On August 4, 2020 a massive explosion in Beirut killed over 100 people, injured over 3000, and caused extensive infrastructure damage to Lebanon’s capital. The government claimed that an accidental fire ignited a stockpile of fireworks and ammonium nitrate.
• Beirut’s Governor Marwan Abboud said 300,000 people had been made homeless and that the collective losses could reach 10 to 15 billion US dollars.

Why is it important?

• This explosion will likely make Lebanon’s existing political, economic and humanitarian crises much worse. Currently, Lebanon also hosts the highest proportion of refugees per capita in the world and has struggled to cope with the spillover effects of regional conflicts in Syria and the Palestinian territories.
• Lebanon has also been combatting the COVID-19 pandemic and this catastrophe will make it more difficult to prevent the spread of the virus. Many have been left without basic necessities.

What can you do?

• Read more about what can be done for Lebanon’s refugee crisis from CSIS.