Lebanon
Emergency Response to the Explosion in Beirut
Japanese
©PARCIC
Beirut Massive Explosion Relief Featured in 2020 Annual Report
28th July 2021
Scene of food distribution ©PARCIC
In August 2020, JPF provided food distribution, house repair, rehabilitation support for the disabled, and psychosocial support for children and the disabled to the victims of the massive explosion in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. The 2020 Annual Report also introduces the voices of beneficiaries of house repair assistance provided by member NGOs.
Click here for the web version of the FY2020 Annual Report
https://www.japanplatform.org/about/ar/2020.html
PARCIC’s Activity Report
15th June 2021
JPF member NGO PARCIC has been providing support to the victims of the massive explosion in Beirut that happened in August 2020.
The report on the relief activities, which ended on May 13, is available on the organization's website.
Click here for PARCIC's report.
Implementation of Child Protection by SCJ
5th May 2021 23:00
©Save the Children
JPF member NGOs are continuing their projects to support those affected by the massive explosion in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, which occurred last August.
Save the Children (SCJ) is providing child protection and psychosocial support. They also distribute supplies and other equipment for programs for caregivers, and is working on an online curriculum.
Extension of PARCIC's Project Period
28th April 2021 8:00
Registration for distribution ©PARCIC
JPF member NGOs are implementing a project to support the people affected by the massive explosion in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, which occurred last August.
In addition to the Campaign for Children of Palestinian (CCP) and Save the Children Japan (SCJ), which provide psychological and social support to children and people with disabilities, PARC Interpeoples' Cooperation (PARCIC) has extended the project period until May 13 and is continuing to distribute food and hygiene items to the affected people.
Program Term Extension
29th March 2021 21:30
Using a large parking lot to distribute relief items ©PARCIC
JPF member NGOs have been implementing relief projects to support the people affected by the massive explosion in Beirut, the capital city of Lebanon, which occurred in August last year.
In January and February, Beirut experienced a lockdown as a countermeasure to the spread of the new coronavirus. The lockdown was on top of the already worsening economy there, and there was a temporary suspension of business activities as a result. In response to this situation, the Campaign for the Children of Palestine Japan (CCP) and Save the Children Japan (SCJ), both of which had been provided psychosocial support to children and persons with disabilities, have extended their project terms to continue their support to the affected people. (CCP’s term is extended until 31 May, SCJ’s until 30 June.)
PARCIC’s Relief Item Distribution
12th February 2021 21:30
Transporting food to be distributed ©PARCIC
JPF member NGO PARC Interpeoples' Cooperation (PARCIC) is providing food, hygiene items, and home repair assistance to those who were affected by the massive explosion in Beirut in August 2020.
In Beirut, restrictions are set in place prohibiting people to leave their homes without approval to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, so PARCIC is conducting needs assessment surveys by phone and other remote means. They are also preparing for the second round of food distribution, which is an approved activity in this pandemic.
▼JPF’s Emergency Response to the Explosion in Beirut
https://www.japanplatform.org/programs/beirut-explosions2020/
CCP’s Assistance for Persons with Disabilities
18th January 2021 20:00
JPF member NGO Campaign for the Children of Palestine Japan (CCP) is supporting the people affected by the massive explosion that occurred in the Lebanese capital city of Beirut in August 2020, entitling their project "Rehabilitation Assistance and Psychological Support to Persons with Physical Disabilities Affected by the Beirut Massive Explosion."
Approximately 1,100 families with members who have disabilities were affected by the explosion in Beirut, and more than 200 people were newly disabled. CCP will provide rehabilitation and psychological support to them as well as distribute hygiene products and other items.
CCP’s report can be read here.
SCJ’s Assistance for Children
23rd December 2020 7:30
JPF member NGO Save the Children Japan (SCJ) is implementing a project on protection, psychosocial support, and shelter for children to support those affected by the massive explosion in the Lebanese capital city of Beirut that occurred in August.
Since November, SCJ has started to provide rent assistance to households that lost their homes in the explosion as well as psychological care for children affected by this accident. SCJ will continue to deliver the necessary assistance to help children and their families rebuild their lives.
Please read SCJ’s report here.
PARCIC's Assistance in Beirut
13th November 2020 20:00
- ©PARCIC
As a JPF program, JPF member NGO PARC Interpeoples' Cooperation (PARCIC) is providing food, hygiene items, and home repair assistance to those who were affected by the massive explosion in Beirut.
PARCIC will distribute food baskets and help repair damaged homes in the five most severely affected districts within 3 kilometers of the explosion site in the city of Beirut: Medawar, Saifi, Rmeil, Achrafieh, and Bachoura. PARCIC is currently coordinating the selection of beneficiaries with other organizations involved to reach the most vulnerable households with their assistance.
PARCIC's Online Event: "Two Months After the Massive Explosion in Beirut"
6th October 2020 16:00
JPF member NGO PARC Interpeoples' Cooperation (PARCIC) will host the following online event on the local conditions in Beirut after the massive explosion as well as assistance provided at Syrian refugee camps in Lebanon.
＜Online Event＞"Two Months after the Massive Explosion in Beirut: Stories from the Ground"
★Date & Time: Friday 16 October 2020, 8:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
★Place: Online meeting via ZOOM
★Participation Fee: Free *Registration Required
★Program: Presentations on:
- Current conditions in Beirut, Lebanon
- PARCIC's relief efforts in response to the massive explosion in Beirut
- Future activities in Arsal, North Lebanon
★Further Details & Registration: Please see the following event page
https://peatix.com/event/1656478/view
*ZOOM meeting URL will be sent by email to those who have registered.
During this event, a documentary director currently in Lebanon and PARCIC staff in Lebanon will be providing information from the field. We hope you will join us!
Decision to Launch
2nd September 2020 13:35
On 31 August, JPF decided to launch an emergency response program to support the people affected by the massive explosion that occurred in the Lebanese capital city of Beirut on 4 August.
Given the chaotic socioeconomic situations in Lebanon and the magnitude of the needs for assistance, JPF, in partnership with our member NGOs, will provide emergency assistance to prevent the already vulnerable people from becoming even more vulnerable. We will be posting regular updates on this response on the JPF website and our Facebook page.
●2 September 2020（Press Release）
Japan Platform (JPF) - an emergency humanitarian aid organization established in 2000 in partnership among the NGOs, the Japanese government, and the business community - decided on 31 August to launch an emergency response program to support the people affected by the massive explosion that occurred in the Lebanese capital city of Beirut on 4 August 2020.
＜Overview＞
On 4 August at around 6:00 p.m. local time, a large explosion occurred in the port area of the Lebanese capital Beirut. It is believed that the cause of the explosion is the 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate stored by the Lebanese government in a warehouse.*1 Up to 10,000 people participated in protests in Beirut on 8 and 9 August, and on the following 10th, Prime Minister Diab announced the resignation of his cabinet.*2- Damages from the explosion were extensive, having killed more than 180 people and injured 6,500 (as of 28th August).*3 More than 300,000 people, including 80,000 children, have been displaced from their homes and have taken refuge in public facilities such as schools.*1 Among the displaced are not only Lebanese residents of Beirut but also Syrian and Palestinian refugees.
- More than 15 medical facilities have been damaged and are currently unable to adequately treat the injured.*4 Approximately 160 public and private schools have also been damaged by the explosion, affecting access to education for approximately 85,000 children.*5 Additionally, warehouses where approximately 85% of the grains in Lebanon were stored have also been destroyed by the explosion,*6 and while there was already a food shortage resulting from the prolonged economic crisis, the situation is expected to deteriorate.
- On 7 August, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) decided to contribute funds for medical assistance, housing repairs, and other relief measures, and began coordinating efforts among relief organizations.*7 According to OCHA, emergency relief needs have been identified in the areas of health, shelter, protection, WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene), and food security.*8
Given the chaotic socioeconomic situations in Lebanon and the magnitude of the needs for assistance, JPF, in partnership with our member NGOs, will provide emergency assistance to prevent the already vulnerable people from becoming even more vulnerable. We will be posting regular updates on this response on the JPF website and our Facebook page.
※1：UNICEF, Lebanon Situation Report No.2 The Beirut Explosions, 6 August 2020
※2：BBC, Beirut explosion: Lebanon's government 'to resign' as death toll rises, 10 August
※3：OCHA, Lebanon: Beirut Port Explosions Situation Report No. 8, As of 28 August 2020
※4：OCHA, Lebanon: Beirut Port Explosions Situation Report No. 3, As of 10 August 2020
※5：OCHA, Lebanon: Beirut Port Explosions Situation Report No. 6, As of 21 August 2020
※6：OCHA, Lebanon: Beirut Port Explosions Situation Report No. 2, As of 7 August 2020
※7：OCHA, UN PROVIDES $15 MILLION IN RESPONSE TO BEIRUT BLAST, 7 August 2020
※8：OCHA, Lebanon 2020 Flash Appeal, 14 August 2020
Program Overview
*Program term and budget will be revised as needed to reflect the continuously changing conditions and needs.
| Term | 6 months, Initial Response Period |
|---|---|
| Budget | 140 million yen (government subsidies) |
| Location | Beirut, Lebanon |
Program Policies
- In light of the sociopolitical conditions in Lebanon, urgency of this emergency, and the impact of the new coronavirus pandemic, priority will be given in this program to organizations that have the know-how and the resources to implement operations and are able to promptly begin operations. Accordingly, this emergency response program will only include organizations that are currently operating or already have experience implementing projects in the region.
- Given that the international community has conditioned its support to the Lebanese government on administrative reform, we will ensure neutrality and transparency when coordinating our own relief efforts with the local government and other Lebanese entities.
