{"id":71637,"date":"2020-08-18T12:19:26","date_gmt":"2020-08-18T19:19:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.worldvision.org\/?p=71637"},"modified":"2020-08-18T15:02:19","modified_gmt":"2020-08-18T22:02:19","slug":"lebanon-beirut-explosion-facts-how-help","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.worldvision.org\/disaster-relief-news-stories\/lebanon-beirut-explosion-facts-how-help","title":{"rendered":"Lebanon: Beirut explosion facts and how to help"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

An explosion that rocked the port of Beirut, Lebanon, on August 4 killed at least 160 people and injured about 6,000.<\/a> It created a shock wave that severely damaged roads and buildings, shattering glass for miles.<\/p>\n

In the densely populated city of more than 2 million people, about 300,000 were immediately displaced. Families have been forced to seek temporary shelter with relatives and friends or in schools or other civic buildings. According to local assessments, as many as 500,000 people may need assistance with immediate needs such as food, clothing, and shelter.<\/p>\n

“People are on the streets, cleaning up and reconnecting with and supporting loved ones after surviving the blast. Hospitals that were already under pressure dealing with COVID-19<\/a> patients are now also inundated with people severely injured by the blast. Understandably, people are doing what needs to be done, but the aftermath has created the perfect storm to increase the risk of the virus spreading,” says Hans Bederski, World Vision’s national director for Lebanon.<\/p>\n

World Vision staff report that all sponsored children have been accounted for and are safe. However, two staff members received minor injuries in the explosion.<\/p>\n

Why was there unrest in Lebanon, even before this disaster?<\/h2>\n

Lebanon was already facing several crises:<\/p>\n