By Kristen

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A week and a half ago, on the 4th of August, 2 powerful explosions took place in Beirut, Lebanon. The explosions claimed countless lives, injured 1000s, drove people to homelessness and caused billions of dollars of property damage. The effects of the explosion have gone beyond this initial damage and has affected people in ways we couldn’t begin to imagine. The cause of the explosion was unknown for the first few days and then the news broke that hazardous ammonium nitrate had been unsafely stored and had detonated on that day. 

 

When something large scale, like an explosion, happens somewhere far away and we’re not immediately connected we can feel stuck. There is the initial reaction of sadness, grief or anger but more often than not those feelings fade as the toll of our everyday lives overtakes the situation. Beyond those initial feelings we tend to quickly move on. This is definitely a byproduct of the world we live in. On the first day of a serious incident, news and media outlets are flooded and then a few days later the news cycle rotates and we are on to the next tragedy. 

 

There are also times when feelings of guilt set in. That initial shock and outpouring of emotions an event brings is coupled with helplessness. We may find ourselves asking, what can I actually do? The truth is we can all do something. We should never underestimate the power of simply donating money, staying informed or sharing information on social media. These acts may seem small and insignificant but it's better than feeling guilty and not actually doing anything. This is where the problem lies, when we do absolutely nothing. 

 

When the news broke about the explosion in Beirut, I was left with this same feeling of initial sadness and then guilt. Instead of wallowing in these feelings and then doing nothing, like I usually do, I decided that I wanted to do something tangible. By pure chance, I discovered ‘Impact Lebanon.’ The London-based organisation was created by folks of the Lebanese diaspora,  offering support to their homeland as well as to those living outside of Lebanon. During Covid, the org has been offering consistent support, food packages and other essentials to those who needed it most in Lebanon. Following on from the explosion they are partnering with NGOs on the ground in Beirut, who have been properly vetted and all funds are split between the different orgs depending on their needs and what they’re offering to citizens in Lebanon. They are also fully transparent and keep donors up to date on where the funds are being directed. 

 

The news cycle may have moved on, but those who have been affected by the explosion in Beirut are still grappling with the implications. So how can we help the citizens of Beirut? 

 

• If you happen to be in Lebanon, there is an urgent need for blood donations. 

• If you are not in Lebanon the best way to continue to help is to donate money to organisations working on the ground (like Impact Lebanon and the Lebanese Red Cross) and by staying aware/informed and sharing things we discover. 

 

There are so many tragic things that happen in our world everyday and it’s impossible to think we can help everyone, but do not dismiss the impact of small actions.