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A devastating explosion that rocked Beirut on August 4 — killing at least 140, wounding more than 5,000 and displacing 300,000 from their homes, including 100,000 children — was the latest chapter in an already terrible crisis unfolding in Lebanon. Economic collapse, food insecurity and a surge in COVID-19 cases have left children and families across the country in need of emergency assistance.
UNICEF staff are helping authorities assess urgently needed medical and vaccine supplies, rushing bottles of water to first responders and residents in the Beirut port area and working with child protection colleagues to reunite children separated from their families and provide counseling to children traumatized by this latest catastrophe. Ten containers of personal protective equipment including hundreds of thousands of gloves, gowns and masks just procured by the Ministry of Public Health for the COVID response were destroyed. UNICEF is working with WHO to immediately replace these supplies.
UNICEF staff are distributing vital supplies including critical medications, mattresses, blankets, towels, hygiene kits and drinking water. Initial reports indicate that 120 public and private schools serving approximately 55,000 children were damaged in the blast; it will be crucial to rehabilitate them before the start of the new school year. UNICEF is estimating that it will need $8.2 million to support children and families in the aftermath of the explosion and the ongoing economic crisis.
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