Mireille Girard
On 4 August 2020, a huge explosion at Beirut’s port devastated the city, killing at least 180 people and injuring over 6,500 others. Dozens more people remain missing and an estimated 300,000 people had their homes seriously damaged. The explosions hit as Lebanon faces a multi-faceted crisis. In recent months, the socio-economic situation of Lebanese and refugees has continued to deteriorate, with the cost of basic needs exponentially rising as a result of the deep economic and financial crisis, exacerbated by the impact of COVID-19.
Lebanon and its people have been a pillar of support for thousands of refugees, year after year. Lebanon continues to host the highest number of refugees per capita in the world, with about one million refugees in the country. Today, devastated by the Beirut explosion, we are standing with the people of Lebanon, and the thousands of families who have been impacted by its aftermath.
UNHCR is on the ground working with people affected by the devastating blast and ensuring they can return to or stay in their homes. This explosion affected everyone, Lebanese, refugees and other populations, regardless of nationality or status. Our immediate humanitarian response to the tragic blast covers the entire community and focuses on the most vulnerable in the community and on two major areas – shelter and protection, notably community-based protection and mental health and psychosocial support.
UNHCR’s emergency support of shelter aid and trauma counseling targets 100,000 vulnerable affected Lebanese, refugees and other populations without distinction. In the first phase of our shelter emergency response, we have been providing families with emergency weatherproofing kits including wood and plastic sheets, to help them secure the external entrances of their homes and cover damaged window openings, in order to provide a level of safety and security, protect them from the elements and restore their privacy and dignity. In the next phase we will now be providing support for rehabilitation of houses and buildings, reconnection to water and sanitation and electrical networks.
This is in addition to a cash assistance programme to affected households who will have to undertake rental and accommo¬dation payments and will be facing significant labor and material costs in making home repairs. Time is of the essence and given the financial crisis that Lebanon has been facing for the past months, multi-purpose cash remains the most effective means to provide immediate relief and to support rapid repair and reconstruction needs. It will also support other related needs such as food, basic assistance and healthcare costs that affected populations may face.
While providing shelter support is of immediate importance, we cannot overlook the urgency and vitality of protection activities that are taking place. Those most vulnerable are at the heart of UNHCR’s response, where existing community structures are built upon and new ones are engaged to reach out to individuals in immediate need and advise on the services and assistance required to secure people’s basic rights and dignity, while laying the ground for emotional and material recovery and resilience against further shocks. People in need are identified and referred to services by trained Outreach Volunteers, community groups and UNHCR and partner staff in mobile units and foot on the ground, and through hotlines and other assessments. People in the affected neighborhoods have endured multiple traumas and struggle with the pains of loss, feelings of insecurity and shattered dignity. Psychological first aid and psychosocial support is an important part of our response at all stages, from emergency to recovery, to help survivors recover and rebuild their self-confidence and resilience. Front-liners are trained in psychosocial first aid to receive and appropriately respond to calls from persons in distress, and refer individuals in need to special¬ized services, including tailored mental health and psychological support.
While we cope with this current emergency, I must also note that this comes at a time where we are facing a global pandemic which has impacted every country both medically and economically. In recent weeks we have seen a sharp increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in Lebanon, and we are fast-tracking the deployment of ventilators and other ICU equipment to hospitals across the country to help them face the increase in patient admissions. This will further complement our ongoing COVID-19 response in Lebanon, which is providing the healthcare system with 800 additional beds and 100 additional ICU beds, in addition to ventilators and other advanced equipment, and the expansion of hospital facilities, in order to help the country accommodate access to those in need.
The needs are great, and the cost is even higher. However, there is no price on the value of human life and dignity. Today, and from the heart of Beirut, we ask the international community, from the individual to the private sector, to stand with Lebanon during its time of need, not forgetting all the years this country and its people stood by those who needed support. Every gesture of support and every action count. We stand in solidarity with Lebanon in these tragic and testing times and remain committed to supporting the people of Beirut and all those involved in the response as they try to recover the city, and overcome their pain and immense losses.
(The author is UNHCR representative in Lebanon)
