Stay up-to-date with Trócaire's work overseas, get news on key global social justice issues, and find out about our latest campaigns in Ireland and how you can get involved.
To mark World Humanitarian Day, this powerful photo story looks at the lives of people in Beirut affected by the explosion two weeks ago, and the hope that emergency relief is providing to them.
Trócaire is responding to the urgent needs of people affected in Beirut through our local partner organisation Caritas Lebanon.
Chaos, devastation, rubble everywhere. Lives lost, people injured, homes destroyed.
As the people of Beirut try to make sense of what has happened to them, there has been a spike in COVID infections, and the country is about to go into lockdown. This is added to the existing political chaos and impending economic collapse.
You could not write a film script for what the Lebanese people are facing. Lebanon is suffering, but its people show remarkable resilience in the face of this catastrophe.
Thanks to the generous support of the Irish people, Trócaire is responding on the ground, working through our inspiring local partners to provide emergency relief.
This photo story shows the lives of people affected and the emergency response our partners are leading.
Two weeks ago Beirut was devastated by this explosion that killed 178 people and injured over 6,000. The blast has destroyed the port area of Beirut and 300,000 people are left without homes. The devastation was caused by 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate.
"At first I couldn't hear and then everyone was screaming," recalls Doha of the explosions. This 8 year old girl injured her arm in the explosion. According to the UN, over 1,000 children were injured in the blast, and over 80,000 children are now without homes.
Wafaa Ismail, 35, is a Syrian refugee living in Lebanon. She sits in front of what is left of her house. She fled Syria years ago to find safety in Lebanon. Now she has once again lost everything.
Syrian refugees sit in what is left of their houses, a kilometre away from Beirut's port where the explosion occurred. Lebanon hosts over a million Syrian refugees and many of those refugees already struggle with poverty and discrimination.
"I was so scared” says 8 year old Domoa. “I dream about the blast and then I wake up at night".
Adnan Asaf, 42, sits in his home affected by the explosion.
Shirin Hussain's (32) doors and windows were destroyed in the explosion.
Zaina, 6, says she is still afraid when she hears loud voices.
Cleaning up the destruction in the centre of Beirut.
Cleaning rubble in the centre of Beirut.
Incredible volunteers helping Trócaire’s local partner Caritas Lebanon to prepare meals to distribute to affected families and to help clear rubble
Emergency supplies being provided by Caritas Lebanon to people affected by the explosion.
Our local partner, Caritas Lebanon, is acting as quickly as possible to make sure urgent needs are met. Immediate support is needed to provide food and medical supplies, and to enable people to renovate their houses and business.
Caritas Lebanon and their large team of youth volunteers were helping people affected within hours of the explosion, assisting the wounded as the local hospitals did not have the capacity to do so.
So far, Caritas has delivered home appliances and baby items to 40 families, hygiene kits to 133 people, hot meals to 30,000 people and food to 700 people in need. Volunteers and social workers are visiting affected people’s homes daily to provide assistance in person.
Trócaire is working closely together with Caritas Lebanon and will also be providing emergency cash assistance to 290 vulnerable families through Caritas Lebanon.
With your generous support, we can increase this to more families, support the renovation of homes and provide much needed psychological support.
Please support our emergency appeal to help rush urgent supplies and assistance to those who need it most. Your generous support and solidarity can provide hope in this time of crisis.
You can donate online or by phoning:
1850 408 408 (Republic of Ireland)
0800 912 1200 (Northern Ireland).
Photos by Stefanie Glinski for Catholic Relief Services, and from Caritas Lebanon.
