Aug 7, 2020
In the wake of the massively destructive explosion in Beirut on Tuesday, Heartland Alliance International (HAI) is working with partners in Lebanon to assess the damage and be positioned to provide urgent support to women, their families, and communities who are in critical need of safety and basic necessities.
“What a catastrophic tragedy for the people of Lebanon,” said Scott Portman, HAI’s Director of International Programming. “My heart goes out to the communities who were already suffering through multiple crises including a pandemic, political instability, economic collapse, and a refugee plight. We are acting in a time of heightened emergency, so that those who have been impacted are able to manage through this extremely difficult time.”
HAI is providing health and hygiene supplies as well as sexual and reproductive health services in Lebanon since the pandemic – both for Syrian refugees and the Lebanese host population. Along with many other buildings near the port, HAI’s office in Beirut was badly damaged in the blast, but our programming outside of where the explosion occurred continues. We are thankful that the one staff member who was on-site only incurred minor injuries, and all other team members were safely working from home.
While it remains difficult to comprehend the magnitude of the devastation, HAI is deeply concerned about the effects this will have on women, their families, and communities in the days and weeks ahead. We are working with partners as quickly as possible to establish what is most urgently needed, so that we can support those who have been affected.
We need your help. Make a donation to support HAI’s response in Beirut.
About Heartland Alliance International
Heartland Alliance International (HAI) implements programs in Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, and in Chicago at the Marjorie Kovler Center. HAI’s technical areas include mental health and psychosocial support, gender equity, access to justice, and stigma-free HIV prevention, care, and treatment. Across all programs, HAI promotes progressive, innovative approaches to human rights protections and gender equity. Our mission is to secure the rights and well-being of marginalized people and empower them to actively engage in their communities and drive social change.
