More than 100 dead and 4,000 injured caused by the huge explosion on Tuesday, August 4th at around 6.10 pm local time in the area near the port of the Lebanese capital Beirut. Glass doors and windows were broken up to a distance of 10 kilometres from the disaster area. The government says there are about 300,000 people made homeless.
Even before this catastrophe, this country was already facing a severe economic crisis, which wasworsened because of the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. According to official sources more than 45% of the population lives in poverty and unemployment has risen to 35%.
The explosion on August 4th was another major blow not only to Lebanon’s economy and infrastructure but also to the morale of a people who have suffered so much violence in recent decades.
Like all humanitarian associations, the Focolare’s “New Humanity Movement ” has set to work to help those most affected. With the help of the local community of the Movement, the Mariapolis Centre “La Sorgente” in Ain Aar in Beirut has been made available for those who have lost their homes. Groups of young people and adults are helping families and people most affected, meeting their need for food, cleaning materials, and other primary necesities .
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The Emergency Coordination of the Focolare Movement, which will intervene through the AMU and AFN organizations, has been activated. For those who want to collaborate, the following current accounts have been activated:
Azione per un Mondo Unito ONLUS (AMU) | ||
Azione per Famiglie Nuove ONLUS (AFN) PURPOSE: Emergency Lebanon |