Pia's List: Direct Support for families in Beirut
Donation protected
Friends,
Most of you know that I was born and raised in Beirut, Lebanon.
In the aftermath of the tragic explosion on August 4th, many of us outside the country have been desperately seeking to account for friends and family hurt or displaced by the event and to help in any way we can. Many kind friends have reached out as well asking how they can help.
Unfortunately, as you may have read, a great deal of the assistance through formal aid channels and organizations are not making it to people in need because of the corruption that is rampant in Lebanon. Much of the emergency supplies and equipment has been seized and sold as opposed to donated and it is not reaching most people. Sadly, there is virtually no trust that even well-intentioned organizations can navigate the corruption of the government.
I decided that the best thing I can do as an individual is to compile the stories and specific needs of people whom I know personally and set up a campaign to provide direct assistance to as many as I can. I will personally make sure all funds raised are securely conveyed to provide immediate, critical assistance for families in crisis and will track and report back to all donors on how the funds have been used.
I'm appealing to all of you who, like me, are lucky enough to live with a basic sense of security, to help me lend a hand to those who are suffering.
We can send support and solidarity to wonderful people whose stories and needs I have compiled for you to read http://www.unitedwehelp961.com/
As an expat, it’s both painful to be outside the country in this moment of extreme crisis and yet I also know my good fortune to be in the US and have a network of so many friends and caring people with capacity to help gives me a privileged opportunity to help in ways that can make a real difference.
Some lost their homes and have no way of supporting themselves because of the injuries they succumbed to during the blast; others lost the sole money maker of their household and others had been struggling even before the blast and are now homeless. Many wonderful people I know are literally facing starting from zero. Some are staying in houses in danger of collapsing at any moment. Many are worrying about basic food and shelter for the next 6 months even as they are grieving loss of loved ones.
Corruption, political instability , global pandemic, abject poverty, lack of electricity... Lebanon has been going through a lot even before this catastrophe. The residents were calling it hell on earth. Then 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate that exploded in the port of Beirut has made things truly apocalyptic.
More than 5000 injured people walking the streets like zombies trying to catch a ride to the overwhelmed and full hospitals, over 172 dead, many still missing, 300,000 homeless from the blast and hospitals completely destroyed... Loved ones died under the rubble. Some right away, others after being stuck for hours calling for help but no one could get to them in time. Parents witnessed life fading out of their bleeding children. To say the very least, this has traumatized all of us.
I’d be so appreciative if you’d join me in rallying with me to bring them a lifeline to get across this moment and some hope to keep their spirits up.
This initial list is just a first compilation of some extremely urgent situations and needs…I’ll keep updating it as we go.
Love and thanks
Pia
Most of you know that I was born and raised in Beirut, Lebanon.
In the aftermath of the tragic explosion on August 4th, many of us outside the country have been desperately seeking to account for friends and family hurt or displaced by the event and to help in any way we can. Many kind friends have reached out as well asking how they can help.
Unfortunately, as you may have read, a great deal of the assistance through formal aid channels and organizations are not making it to people in need because of the corruption that is rampant in Lebanon. Much of the emergency supplies and equipment has been seized and sold as opposed to donated and it is not reaching most people. Sadly, there is virtually no trust that even well-intentioned organizations can navigate the corruption of the government.
I decided that the best thing I can do as an individual is to compile the stories and specific needs of people whom I know personally and set up a campaign to provide direct assistance to as many as I can. I will personally make sure all funds raised are securely conveyed to provide immediate, critical assistance for families in crisis and will track and report back to all donors on how the funds have been used.
I'm appealing to all of you who, like me, are lucky enough to live with a basic sense of security, to help me lend a hand to those who are suffering.
We can send support and solidarity to wonderful people whose stories and needs I have compiled for you to read http://www.unitedwehelp961.com/
As an expat, it’s both painful to be outside the country in this moment of extreme crisis and yet I also know my good fortune to be in the US and have a network of so many friends and caring people with capacity to help gives me a privileged opportunity to help in ways that can make a real difference.
Some lost their homes and have no way of supporting themselves because of the injuries they succumbed to during the blast; others lost the sole money maker of their household and others had been struggling even before the blast and are now homeless. Many wonderful people I know are literally facing starting from zero. Some are staying in houses in danger of collapsing at any moment. Many are worrying about basic food and shelter for the next 6 months even as they are grieving loss of loved ones.
Corruption, political instability , global pandemic, abject poverty, lack of electricity... Lebanon has been going through a lot even before this catastrophe. The residents were calling it hell on earth. Then 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate that exploded in the port of Beirut has made things truly apocalyptic.
More than 5000 injured people walking the streets like zombies trying to catch a ride to the overwhelmed and full hospitals, over 172 dead, many still missing, 300,000 homeless from the blast and hospitals completely destroyed... Loved ones died under the rubble. Some right away, others after being stuck for hours calling for help but no one could get to them in time. Parents witnessed life fading out of their bleeding children. To say the very least, this has traumatized all of us.
I’d be so appreciative if you’d join me in rallying with me to bring them a lifeline to get across this moment and some hope to keep their spirits up.
This initial list is just a first compilation of some extremely urgent situations and needs…I’ll keep updating it as we go.
Love and thanks
Pia
Fundraising team (2)
Pia Nasser
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA
Edward Norton
Team member
