Earlier this month, another calamity struck Beirut.

The Lebanese capital is facing an economic meltdown, lingering political violence, and the global threat of COVID-19. Some of Lebanon’s worst wildfires in decades occurred last October. And on August 4, a fire at the port city’s dockyard ignited a warehouse filled with nearly three thousand tonnes of confiscated ammonium nitrate, a highly explosive chemical. Local officials say it had been left to sit for six years without proper safety procedures.

To the uneducated eye, the resulting explosion looked more akin to a ballistic missile striking its target. “It was as if the sky folded onto itself in a deafening crackling that shook the ground like an earthquake,” an eyewitness wrote for Al Jazeera. The blast ripped the balconies from apartments, topped buildings onto pedestrians, and scattered debris across much of the city. Windows shattered at Beirut International Airport, 9 kilometres from the port.

Roughly 200 people have died, and around 6,000 are injured. An estimated 300,000 Beirut residents – just over a tenth of the city’s population – are now homeless. Many hospitals are now inoperable. Citizens sick of what they see as a wasteful and corrupt government are holding mass demonstrations in Beirut, sometimes clashing with Lebanese security services. Less than a week after the explosion, the entire Lebanese government resigned. The Middle Eastern country’s situation is grim, but Canadian NGOs are stepping up.

The Canadian government pledged “up to $5 million” worth of humanitarian assistance in the immediate aftermath of the explosion, eventually funding a total of $30 million. About $1.5 million is going to the Lebanese Red Cross itself to support emergency medical service and provide basic essentials to survivors. But a network of other charities is also helping Beirut, matched in part of the Canadian government.

Here are five Canadian organizations stepping up to help:

1. Lebanese Canadian Coalition

Four days after the explosion, Lebanese Canadian business leaders announced a coalition to raise at least $2.5 million dollars to support relief efforts for Beirut. (So far, they’re raised about $565,000). “This resilient city and its people have overcome so much, but this blow has left them reeling,” said Mohamad Fakih, co-founder of the Lebanese Canadian Coalition (LCC) and the owner of Paramount Fine Foods.

All funds raised by the coalition will go towards the Humanitarian Coalition, a group of 12 Canadian international aid agencies who work together during major international disasters, along with the Canadian Red Cross. These funds will, in turn, be matched by the Canadian government. A statement by the LCC says the funds will support Lebanese people who need medical care, food, and shelter.   

You can donate here.

2. Islamic Relief Canada

The Islamic international aid and development charity works to end poverty and disease all around the world. Their values are inspired by the Qur’an, which instructs devout Muslims with wealth to donate to those in need. Islamic Relief Lebanon Country Director Nidal Ali said the charity was planning food and water delivery for homeless people in Beirut shortly after the blast. They were also providing cash jobs for out-of-work Beirut residents to clear the streets of debris. “Longer-term we will need to continue providing food parcels, as the seaport has been destroyed, meaning food imports will be significantly reduced to a country that is already on its knees,” Ali said in a statement.

As a member of the Humanitarian Coalition, all donations to Islamic Relief Canada related to the Beirut explosion will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Canadian government until August 24. Donations can be made here.

3. Humanity & Inclusion Canada

The Canadian association of the French-based global charity raises funds and advocates for people with disabilities around the world. At the time of the explosion, HI had nearly 100 staff members in Lebanon before the explosion, assisting Palestinian and Syrian refugees and providing care for Lebanese people with disabilities.

Many injured survivors were rushed to Beirut’s hospitals with complex fractures, as well as extremity amputations. “Many have already undergone surgery and will quickly need physiotherapy and mobility aids in order to begin their recovery,” a statement from HI read. The charity will be mobilizing not only its in-country staff, but also a network of partners “to bring our expertise and resources to those in need.”

You can donate to HI and support Beirut residents affected by the blast here. All donations will be matched by the Canadian government until August 24. 

4. Canadian Foodgrains Bank

This Winnipeg-based organization – a partnership between 15 different Canadian churches and church-based agencies – tackles hunger, a major concern in Lebanon right now, since most of the country’s food is imported. “The port terminal that received the majority of the country’s grain imports was right next to the site of the explosion,” said Miriam Harder, a senior program officer. “The heavily damaged grain silos are estimated to have held 85 percent of the country’s grain stocks. This will have serious implications for food availability.”

The Canadian Foodgrains Bank says it is working with its members and Lebanese partners to support families affected by the Beirut explosion. As part of their programming, Foodgrains provides food baskets for people forced to flee their homes because of war, natural disasters, or other unrest.

As a member of the Humanitarian Coalition, all donations will be doubled by the Canadian government. Donations can be made here.

5. Health Partners International of Canada

Hospitals in Beirut are overwhelmed after the explosion, and this Quebec-based charity is sending $1 million worth of emergency medicine to help. “Buildings have turned to rubble, hospitals are completely destroyed and patients have been left to suffer, all during a time when COVID-19 cases have surged,” read a statement. “The situation in hospitals is catastrophic and health care systems are in desperate need of help.”

The supplies HPIC sends to Beirut include prescription and over-the-counter drugs, as well as other medical supplies or instruments. According to HPIC, a $1 dollar donation to their organization allows them to distribute $10 worth of medication. Anyone looking to donate can pitch in on their website, here.

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