How to help Beirut explosion victims: 4 things you can do for Lebanon right now
Thousands of people were injured in Beirut Tuesday after a massive explosion in the city’s port warehouse district rippled throughout the Lebanese capital, flattening buildings, blowing out windows, and causing widespread devastation.
Social media was flooded with dramatic videos of a mushroom cloud enveloping the area, followed by apocalyptic scenes of the aftermath that seemed to stretch for miles. According to The New York Times, Beirut’s governor, Marwan Abboud, could not immediately identify the cause of the blast. Officials are pointing to a stockpile of ammonium nitrate, an explosive compound, that was being stored in a warehouse.
More than 130 people are dead, another 4,000 are injured, and an estimated 300,000 people have been displaced from their homes. Those counts are likely to change as new details emerge.
The tragedy comes at the worst possible time for Lebanon, which is already facing the collapse of its currency, deepening political unrest, a crushing economic crisis, and the coronavirus pandemic on top of it all.
As hospitals are inundated with new victims today, relief groups in the country need money and resources fast. Here are a few ways you can help right now:
Additional campaigns
This post has been updated with additional campaigns along with new details about the explosion and casualties.
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