Solidarity with UN colleagues in Beirut

In response to the devastation caused by the explosions at the port of Beirut on 4 August, the United Nations Staff Unions in New York, Nairobi and Vienna, the as well as the Staff Associations of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) are raising funds in solidarity with our colleagues at the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), UNIFIL (the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon), and staff of the United Nations Agencies, Funds and Programmes working in Beirut. This fundraising effort is also generously supported by the Staff Council of the UNDP, UNFPA, UNOPS and UN Women, the Federation of UN Staff Associations (FUNSA) in Addis Ababa and the staff representative bodies of the following UN system organisations: FAO, FAO/WFP-UGSS, IAEA, IARC, ICAO, IFAD, ILO ITC, IMO, IPU, OSCE, PAHO/WHO, SCBD, UNAIDS, UNESCO, UNFCCC, UNGSC, UNIDO, UNRWA/ASA, UNWTO, UPU, WHO/AFRO, WHO/EMRO, WHO/EURO, WHO/GSC, WHO/HQ, WHO/SEARO, WHO/WPRO, WIPO and WMO.

Our hearts go out to all those affected, as well as our Lebanese colleagues both in Beirut and across the UN system. Many of our colleagues or their family members suffered injuries, and many more have seen their homes severely damaged. We are working closely with our colleagues at the ESCWA Staff Council and UNIFIL National Staff Association to determine the best use of the funds we collect, and will provide regular updates via broadcast and through this campaign site.