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My name is Rana Bayadi, and I am a Palestinian refugee who was born and raised in Beirut, Lebanon. I immigrated to the Bay Area when I was 9 years old. I went back to Beirut to obtain my High School Diploma and finally settled in San Francisco, California. I stay in touch with community and family back home and visit every few years. Half of my family lives here in the USA, and the other half including my brother live in Lebanon. I am lucky to have 2 communities that I call home which span the oceans and seas. Beirut and San Francisco are dear to my heart and have shown me such love and care that I want to give back by donating what little time I have to help those in need during this crisis in Beirut.
I am raising funds to send directly to family and friends in Lebanon to help pay for food, medicine, basic household items and hygiene products.
The funds will be transferred through official and legal financial channels to known and verified recipients only. Receipts of transferred funds as well as the recipient’s information will be posted on the go fund me page to share with the donors.
The chain of events that led me to start this fundraiser are below. This fundraiser is a small way that I can help spread kindness, and deliver care to those who need it most during these hard times.
Lebanon has been facing economic decent for decades due to political elite corruption, a constant influx of refugees, and mismanaged resources. It is currently in the worst crises since 1947.
Lebanon does not have any type of government welfare system. Most of its citizens and refugees rely on low paying jobs, UN foreign aid, charity and financial support from those who work abroad. These circumstances are even worse for the generations of long-term Palestinian refugees in permanent camps whose ID limits their job opportunity. Palestinians are still considered second class citizens and permanent refugees in Lebanon.
Thursday, October 17, 2019 millions of hopeless struggling people took to the streets asking for the government to step down and stop the corruption. The political unrest caused much of the private sector to close down for business. This took away much of what little jobs were present.
March 2020 a worldwide Pandemic hit and spiraled Lebanon into an even greater depression. Lebanon just like most other courtiers shut down, sent workers home, and cut essential workers hours and wages. The pandemic coupled with political unrest pushed international trade currency out of the country, and inflation went out of control. Those who were working abroad to support Lebanon, found them-self needing financial support with the world wide shut down and job loss.
On Tuesday August 4, 2020 an explosion in the capital destroyed Beirut's port and main supply line leaving the rest of Beirut a shattered shell.
The Lebanese Lira went from $1 = 1,500 LL in 2019 to $1 = 3,800 LL in 2020 in the currency markets. That is 250% inflation rate on the cost of all goods in a matter of 8 months. The banking elites shut down the financial system to pressure the revolution into submission. The financial shut down caused the international currencies such as the dollar to be depleted in the country. The scarcity of the dollar with its international trade capacity reached $1 = 8,000 LL in the street currency trade. The scarcity of the dollar made it hard for merchants to buy products to bring into the country.
What does this mean to the average Lebanese and Palestinian family? The cost of a loaf of bread went from $1 to $4 in a matter of months. Wages cut and lack of work has left many families struggling to put food on the table, pay for basic hygiene supplies and obtain medicine.
I am starting this fund to raise money to help Lebanese and Palestinian families who are facing dire circumstances. The money raised will be going to help the sick, elderly, poor families, relatives, friends and my home community which is in despair.
I wish I had the money to give more. Unfortunately, I am receiving unprecedented requests; I cannot do it without your aid and generosity. Since the chain of events started many of my friends and community members here in the USA have reached out asking to help. I held off from starting a fund because I had a feeling there was a worse time coming. That time is now. Every little bit helps and every US dollar goes a long way in Lebanon.
There is a lot of aid being sent to Lebanon but much of will not reach in time or reach the right people. This is why I plan on sending the strongest commodity I can the quickest way possible that is ... USD Cash... I will also be working with local grocers and producers to distribute packages of food and essentials to those who don't have it.
I will be posting updates and sharing with you the all the stories of the people you will be helping.
I want to thank you for taking the time to read this. I understand if you cannot help monetarily as many are facing their own hardships here and still without a job due to the pandemic. You can assist in other ways by sharing, posting, and helping me spread the word to obtain aid for those people and communities that are in need.
I truly appreciate your support and very grateful that you even read the post this far.
Peace, Love, and Unity
Many blessings to ALL
I am raising funds to send directly to family and friends in Lebanon to help pay for food, medicine, basic household items and hygiene products.
The funds will be transferred through official and legal financial channels to known and verified recipients only. Receipts of transferred funds as well as the recipient’s information will be posted on the go fund me page to share with the donors.
The chain of events that led me to start this fundraiser are below. This fundraiser is a small way that I can help spread kindness, and deliver care to those who need it most during these hard times.
Lebanon has been facing economic decent for decades due to political elite corruption, a constant influx of refugees, and mismanaged resources. It is currently in the worst crises since 1947.
Lebanon does not have any type of government welfare system. Most of its citizens and refugees rely on low paying jobs, UN foreign aid, charity and financial support from those who work abroad. These circumstances are even worse for the generations of long-term Palestinian refugees in permanent camps whose ID limits their job opportunity. Palestinians are still considered second class citizens and permanent refugees in Lebanon.
Thursday, October 17, 2019 millions of hopeless struggling people took to the streets asking for the government to step down and stop the corruption. The political unrest caused much of the private sector to close down for business. This took away much of what little jobs were present.
March 2020 a worldwide Pandemic hit and spiraled Lebanon into an even greater depression. Lebanon just like most other courtiers shut down, sent workers home, and cut essential workers hours and wages. The pandemic coupled with political unrest pushed international trade currency out of the country, and inflation went out of control. Those who were working abroad to support Lebanon, found them-self needing financial support with the world wide shut down and job loss.
On Tuesday August 4, 2020 an explosion in the capital destroyed Beirut's port and main supply line leaving the rest of Beirut a shattered shell.
The Lebanese Lira went from $1 = 1,500 LL in 2019 to $1 = 3,800 LL in 2020 in the currency markets. That is 250% inflation rate on the cost of all goods in a matter of 8 months. The banking elites shut down the financial system to pressure the revolution into submission. The financial shut down caused the international currencies such as the dollar to be depleted in the country. The scarcity of the dollar with its international trade capacity reached $1 = 8,000 LL in the street currency trade. The scarcity of the dollar made it hard for merchants to buy products to bring into the country.
What does this mean to the average Lebanese and Palestinian family? The cost of a loaf of bread went from $1 to $4 in a matter of months. Wages cut and lack of work has left many families struggling to put food on the table, pay for basic hygiene supplies and obtain medicine.
I am starting this fund to raise money to help Lebanese and Palestinian families who are facing dire circumstances. The money raised will be going to help the sick, elderly, poor families, relatives, friends and my home community which is in despair.
I wish I had the money to give more. Unfortunately, I am receiving unprecedented requests; I cannot do it without your aid and generosity. Since the chain of events started many of my friends and community members here in the USA have reached out asking to help. I held off from starting a fund because I had a feeling there was a worse time coming. That time is now. Every little bit helps and every US dollar goes a long way in Lebanon.
There is a lot of aid being sent to Lebanon but much of will not reach in time or reach the right people. This is why I plan on sending the strongest commodity I can the quickest way possible that is ... USD Cash... I will also be working with local grocers and producers to distribute packages of food and essentials to those who don't have it.
I will be posting updates and sharing with you the all the stories of the people you will be helping.
I want to thank you for taking the time to read this. I understand if you cannot help monetarily as many are facing their own hardships here and still without a job due to the pandemic. You can assist in other ways by sharing, posting, and helping me spread the word to obtain aid for those people and communities that are in need.
I truly appreciate your support and very grateful that you even read the post this far.
Peace, Love, and Unity
Many blessings to ALL