Lebanese communities around the world, which account for about three times Lebanon’s population of four million, have sought to help the small country following the massive explosion that destroyed large parts of its capital, Beirut.
Expatriates rushed to send money to their relatives, who lost their homes or were injured in Tuesday’s explosion that claimed the lives of at least 154 people and wounded more than 5,000. Others have pledged to create special funds to face the tragedy.
“I’ve been on the phone all morning with...our partners in order to put together an alliance for an emergency fund in light of the explosion,” said George Akiki, co-founder and CEO of LebNet, a non-profit based in California’s Silicon Valley that helps Lebanese professionals in the United States and Canada. “Everyone, both Lebanese and non-Lebanese, wants to help,” he told AFP.
He added that his group, along with other organizations such as SEAL and Life Lebanon, have set up Beirut Emergency Fund 2020, aimed at raising much-needed money and channel it to safe and reputable organizations in Lebanon.
The report, published by AFP on Thursday, shed light on the active role of expatriates in relief efforts.
The agency said that many Lebanese expats, who almost all have loved ones or friends impacted by the disaster, were also helping individually or have started online fundraisers.
“As a first step, my wife Hala and I will match at least $10,000 in donations and later on we will provide more help towards rebuilding and other projects,” Habib Haddad, a tech entrepreneur and member of LebNet based in Boston, Massachusetts, told AFP.
He added many compatriots were doing the same, channeling their grief and anger toward helping their stricken homeland, which before was already suffering from an unprecedented economic and political crisis that has left more than half the population living in poverty.
Nayla Habib, a Lebanese-Canadian who lives in Montreal, told AFP that she planned to help in whatever way she can.
“My God, the state of our country is terrible and heartbreaking,” Habib told AFP. “I donated before the blast to a lady that helps feed the poor and I will donate again.”
