On August 4, a devastating explosion hit the inhabitants of Beirut. This disaster struck Lebanon at a time when the country was already suffering an economic crisis, with an unstable electricity grid and a health system overloaded because of the pandemic. The country’s electricity network is now even more fragile. Faced with this disaster, Electriciens sans frontières is responding.
A devastating explosion, a weakened electricity network
To date, nearly two hundred people have died, thousands have been injured and more than 300,000 have nowhere to live.
These people saw their homes severely damaged or destroyed by the explosion and find themselves without windows or roofs and have been forcibly displaced. This disaster struck Lebanon at a time when the country was already suffering an economic crisis, with an unstable electricity grid and a health system overloaded because of the pandemic.
The country’s electricity network is now even more fragile. In addition to regular power cuts, the areas devastated by the explosion no longer have any power, and many indoor electrical installations are dangerous.
Electriciens sans frontières is deploying both skills and resources
Faced with this situation, Electriciens sans frontières is mobilising to deploy both skills and resources.
- 500 emergency solar lamps will be distributed to provide displaced families with individual lighting.
- Soon, 4 tonnes of electrical equipment will be shipped to help make the electrical installations in homes that are being refurbished safe once again.
- We are also working on providing photovoltaic power to ten electricity training centres, but our ability to act still depends on our financial means.
Your support is our ability to act quickly and effectively.
This post-emergency action is being carried out in partnership with: CMA-CGM, The French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs’ Crisis and Support Centre, Prysmian, Nexans, Legrand, Schneider Electric, SDMO, Groupe EDF Foundation, ADEME, UFE, Gimelec, Enedis, and RTE.
We are working in close collaboration with these NGOs: The French and Lebanese Red Cross, Croix Rouge Insertion, Première urgence internationale, the Lebanese Secours populaire, the IECD and Beit el Baraka.
