People for People. Food solidarity initiative - Beirut

This fundraising campaign aims to support a trusted local solidarity initiative in Beirut, which is providing food for families displaced by the ongoing conflict.

In Hamra, the heart of West Beirut, the situation is critical, with hundreds of thousands having been forced to flee and now resorting to the street of the Lebanese capital as shelter.

The local community has immediately stepped in, as the response of the local authorities and organizations is unfortunately still vastly insufficient.

From a kitchen in the heart of the neighborhood, Hussein, Ara and their friends are taking care daily of food supply and meal preparations for hundreds of the IDPs. They will continue to do so as long as they're supported by us.

For context: the total n° of people displaced by the conflict in Lebanon till today (08.10.24) is 1.2 millions. The total population of Lebanon is 5.5 million people, of which 1.5 millions are refugees. Of these, around 150.000 fled to Syria.

Almost 1 person every 4 in the country has been forced to flee, and is currently in need of support.

The People for People Food solidarity initiative - Beirut is a dynamic initiative responding to the ongoing emergency, resulting from the need of the displaced and the willingness of the local community to support. Needs are reassessed daily.

How many IDPs (Internally Displaced People) can this initiative support with healthy food?

Till today (08.10.24) the initiative is providing around 350 to 400 meals per day.

Based on the financial support received, this number could grow.

What food is provided?

Food is simple but fresh and healthy. It varies based on what is freshly available.

Examples of meals include: rice and beans, lentils and rice, rice and vegetables, chicken and rice, sandwiches.

It is accompanied by potable water, as tap water in Lebanon is not safe water,

For many displace people, including children, this initiative is their unique meal provider.

How, and to whom is food distributed?

Food preparation takes place in the hearth of Hamra in Beirut. From there, food is distributed or picked up:

How much does it cost to cook and deliver?

a meal ranges between 0.70-0.90 USD. with expenses also required for cutlery, plates and water.

How much can I donate?

Anything is of help. The daily expense is around 400 USD to cover for around 400 families.

If you think your donation won't make a difference because it's too small, please don't step back. Any donation makes a difference.

How will you transfer the money?

I will transfer them progressively, to make sure the kitchen has enough to keep running.

I will do that via MoneyGram, and transfer to my friend Ara at the details provided above.

What will you do once you reach the target?

The target is there to surpassed, not met.

People for People in Beirut will continue to cook and distribute meals to the IDPs until there is financial support.

For how long will this initiative work?

The initiative will keep providing food for the displaced as long as donations -including yours!!- will allow them to.

For now the vast majority of food and shelter provision is provided by the local population, through mutual support and initiatives like this one. The emergency is acute, with the number of IDPs growing daily, directly correlated to the intensity of eviction notes, strikes and increase of ground invasion in Lebanon enforced by the Israeli Defense Forces.

Where are the displaced people sleeping? who is taking care of them, beyond food? Why are many on the street?

Official shelters in town are limited. People that could not afford a rent in town and could not be hosted by relatives and friends have been staying in collective centers as schools, mosques and parking lots. Many are sleeping in their cars and on the street, others in empty buildings, left abandoned during the crises. In Beirut many neighborhood initiatives have emerged rapidly in support of the displaced population, with bars and restaurants turning their kitchen into community kitchens, or night clubs opening their doors as shelters.

This conflict has fallen onto an already devastated economy, in a country with an absent government, energy crises, inflation to the roof, inoperability of the banking system and thus absence of funds and saving for most of the population.

News and articles:

Why do you collect money in Europe and not in Lebanon?

Because we tried to transfer every single donation directly to Lebanon, and it is tricky.

The banking system in Lebanon does not operate due to sever financial crises which has plagues the country since years. To transfer money to Lebanon from Europe, you can use services as OMT, WesternUnion, MoneyGram. They work but it's a little bit more work than one click, so after a first week of attempts, I decided to collect via bank transfer and then transfer to them via Wester Union.

If you'd like to transfer directly, please do so:

MoneyGram to Ara Garabet Tanielian, cash pick up(!!!). Once you complete your donation you'll receive a transfer number, which you need to share with Ara for him to pick up. Please inform him via whatsapp at +96176939593 or the transfer will get lost.

Who are you, and why are you involved from Europe?

My name is Giulia, I am an Italian citizen based in Switzerland. I have had the privilege to work back and forth with and from Beirut for the past two years, till only two months ago. I was supposed to be packing now for my next visit, but this is not happening -yet-. During this time, I got to understand the immense resilience and solidarity which characterizes the Lebanese people, who have been tormented by a crises after another, and never gave up once.

I know Hussein and Ara well. I trust them truly and with no hesitation.

Do you have questions, and want more details? Please reach out, I'd be happy to tell you more.

We are in contact daily, and if you have questions for them I am happy to share them.

Images from the kitchen:

Images on food distribution and the beneficiaries:

the displaced population is vulnerable,

we want to be careful in publishing photos that expose them. As we understand how to do it safely and in respect, avoiding portraits etc, we will update the page.

Thank you for your valuable support,

Giulia, Hussein, Ara and all the friends from People for People food solidarity initiative - Beirut