Baby Formula For Lebanon
As Lebanon’s Crisis Deepens, Lines for Fuel Grow, and Food and Medicine Are Scarce. Lebanon is suffering through a financial crisis that the world bank has said could rank among the world’s three worst since the mid-1800s in terms of its effect on living standards. Its currency has lost more than 90 percent of its value since fall 2019, and unemployment has skyrocketed as businesses have shut down. Imported goods that were once commonplace have become scarce.
The double blow of the pandemic and the huge explosion in the port of Beirut nearly a year ago that killed about 200 people and heavily damaged the capital has made what was already a bad situation much worse. The crisis threatens to add a new element of volatility to a country at the center of the Middle East that was once a cultural and financial hub and now hosts at least one million refugees from neighbouring Syria. Lebanon also forms an active front in the regional struggle for influence between Iran and Israel and the West. Inside Lebanon, the crisis has created a distinct sense that the country is coming undone, as all but the wealthiest spend their days sweating through frequent blackouts, waiting in fuel lines that wrap around city blocks, and running from pharmacy to pharmacy to search for medicines that have disappeared from shelves. The New York Times
“When I heard about the explosion in Beirut, I instantly offered my assistance by donating an ocean container,” says Dina Bakhit, President of Global Logistics Management Inc. and Founder of The Strong Foundation Canada “With over 25 years of experience working in International Logistics and trade, I knew I could put something together very quickly, but not alone. I teamed up with Hamsa Diab Farhat, a true and trusted leader in our community and public outreach and together we launched our relief campaign called Lebanon Strong. To date, we have sent 14 containers to multiple trusted NGOs in Lebanon, full of in-kind donations such as emergency relief aid, non-perishable food, wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds, firefighter gear, and so much more”
“The harrowing consequences of Lebanon’s financial crisis are too big for the world to ignore. We started with one container and we simply could not stop because the situation in Lebanon kept on getting worse and worse as the days went by. Now it's critical as it's affecting the lives of innocent babies. The messages we receive every day are heartbreaking. We sent 500 tins of Baby Formula in our last container, but that is not enough. We need to send a full container if not more.” says Hamsa Diab Farhat, Executive Director of Taste of the Middle East & Blog Middle East Toronto and Founder of The Strong Foundation
Canada.
Dina Bakhit adds "Hunger has no religion" so let's all come together and help feed the most vulnerable.”
"As a father of 3 children and one only 6 months old, I can't imagine not being able to secure baby milk formula for him. It is a parent's worst nightmare. It is our duty to act and assist our brothers and sisters in Lebanon with their basic needs and even more so when it comes to the basic necessities of babies. These young children are at risk of disease, malnutrition, and a higher level of mortality.” says Wasim Jarrah, Campaign Partner, CEO at Concierge Real Estate and a member on the Board of Directors at the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board.
We are desperately calling on media outlets to help us spread the word and provide coverage to our campaign launch. We are calling on community members and business owners to donate to our Go Fund Me. We are calling on dignitaries to support us by sharing our Baby Formula fundraiser to spread the word.
