THE CAUSE: In the aftermath of the 4 August 2020 explosion in Beirut, many low income residents in the immediately surrounding areas (Gemmayze, Mar Mkhael, St Georges Room Area, Jeaitawi area, Mdawar, Carantina, Bourj Hammoud) had their flats wiped out (with shattered doors, glass, windows, furniture, appliances and kitchen stuff). A large proportion of these residents have no second home in the mountains to use and/or have been seriously injured and/or lost loved ones due to the blast. Also a large number of them totally lost their cars (if they had one parked on the street). 98% of them do not have property insurance. For those who have car insurance, the insurance companies are not paying anything yet waiting for the official investigation report into what happened.

This all comes in the middle of the worst financial and economic crisis the country has ever witnessed coupled with the impact of the Covid-19 lockdown.

We feel the biggest help for people in need is direct money in their hands to help them repair (to start with) the doors, windows and necessary appliances to make their flats livable again. We want to do that by giving a small grant of around $1000/$1500 to help.

The money raised on this page will go directly to our cause as described above. They will safely be sent to the individuals named in the committee below who are assessing needs and distributing the funds directly.

WHO ARE WE: we are not an incorporated charity. We are a group of colleagues and friends (most of us live in and around Beirut / some of us live in the UK and around the world) moved by the tragedy and want to help restore as many residential flats as possible (and as soon as possible). Funds will be sent to the households in need through the following individuals.

STEERING COMMITTEE FOR THIS CAUSE: We have a committee in place to discuss how we can best identifying the needs and distribute the funds (2-3 of us visiting the households we are helping): Anees Naim; Joy Barbara; Esther Younan; George Bou Farhat; Jack Noun; Carla Gharzouzi; Sabine Chidiac; Mariana Abou Rouhana; Lama Gholam; Christelle Atallah.

ON THE GROUND IN BEIRUT THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS ARE IN CHARGE OF DISTRIBUTING THE FUNDS: Jack Noun; George Bou Farhat; Christelle Atallah; Lama Gholam.

OTHER FUNDS RAISED TO SUPPORT THIS CAUSE: The company which some of us work for (Bablex) has matched the funds raised to meet the first target on this page (£6,000).

CRITERIA USED TO ASSESS THE HOUSEHOLDS IN NEED: - Degree of personal injuries (and/or any loss of life) caused by the blast; proximity to the explosion; degree of destruction in front door and windows/window frames; degree of destruction in furniture; number of income earners in the hh; availability of a second residence outside of Beirut.

WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED SO FAR: We paid US$16,000 so far in direct $ grants (see photo updates) (given the depreciation and volatility of the Lebanese Lira) to (9) affected low income households in Beirut (in the most affected residential area around the Port). We are aiming to help at least 15 additional households. We will keep this page updated and post more photos. Please contact me at aneesnaim@gmail.com if you have any query about our campaign or want to nominate people in need.

HOW ARE THE FUNDS SPENT: Each selected household is receiving directly around $1,000 (paid in $) in aid to help restore their doors, windows, basic furniture and appliances. The priority for people is to restore their doors and key windows to secure themselves and their belongings from theft. The financial crisis in Lebanon means that any wood, aluminum frames and glass must be purchased either by paying $ notes or the equivalent value in LBP (on the black market rate). This is a huge burden for households who do not earn more than LBP 2,000,000 a month. $100 today is worth around LBP 800,000 on the black market. So a couple of windows can cost around $300 (LBP2,400,000) which is more than what a low income family can earn in an entire month.

Given the scale of the disaster and the urgent requirement to restore people's livable conditions, we do not believe that charities working on the ground today can meet all the demands. We recognize this is only a very small measure in light of the scale of the disaster but we believe every little helps.