Friend –

On August 4, a massive blast in the port of Beirut ripped through the area, killing 180 people, injuring thousands, and destroying homes and displacing families.

Two months after the blast, the situation on the ground still remains critical. Spikes in COVID-19 cases, worsening economic conditions, and the government's withdrawal of subsidies on essential goods are complicating recovery efforts. Many can't afford the basics they need to rebuild and get back on their feet.

"We barely earn enough to buy food and the basics," reports Anto, an out-of-work hairdresser, who witnessed the explosion from his home. "I don't know if there will be another crisis," he shares. "I don't worry about myself much, but I worry about my parents and my family."

Anto and his family are receiving assistance from one of Oxfam's local partners, the Lebanese Centre for Human Rights, whose volunteers are conducting assessments to understand the needs of people affected by the explosion and providing medicine, mental health support, and legal assistance.

Friend – With your support as a member of the Oxfam community, we are working with our partners to support families impacted by the blast. We're also continuing the fight against poverty and injustice around the world.

Read more about how Oxfam and partners are centering the most vulnerable in rebuilding efforts.

Oxfam's partner-led response focuses on supporting local leadership, and prioritizes reaching people with disabilities, the elderly, women and girls – who are now at greater risk of violence because of unsafe housing conditions – migrant workers, refugees, and the LGBTQ+ community.

"We are worried that the growing inequality and suffering we were already seeing in some of Lebanon's most vulnerable communities will only get worse, and they will fall even farther behind," says Bachir Ayoub, Oxfam's policy lead in Lebanon.

As Beirut continues to recover, Oxfam and partners are also calling for fair and just distribution of aid that provides critical support and ensures that Beirut's most marginalized people have the support they need to recover from the blast.

Friend, with the help of supporters like you, Oxfam is working to help those affected by the Beirut blast build back stronger. You make it possible for us to continue our recovery efforts and keep up our work fighting poverty around the world.

Want to contribute to the kind of work that tackles the root causes of poverty and injustice – and changes lives around the world? Our work is only possible because of the support of people like you. Make a donation today.