80,000 children displaced due to Beirut explosions – UNICEF

Some 80,000 children have been displaced by the Beirut explosions, according to UNICEF estimates, with families affected in desperate need of support.

The explosions left 140 people dead, 5,000 injured and hundreds missing. UNICEF is concerned that many children have suffered trauma and remain in shock.

“Over the past 48 hours, UNICEF continued to coordinate closely with authorities and partners on the ground to respond to the urgent needs of families affected, focusing on health, water, and the wellbeing of children,” said Violet Speek-Warnery, UNICEF Deputy Representative in Lebanon.

The port of Beirut – where the explosion took place – is the main lifeline of the country. It is now totally destroyed.

“UNICEF is supporting the local authorities and partners. Our teams have been working around the clock to provide people affected with much-needed assistance,” said Speek-Warnery.

UNICEF in Lebanon is working with counterparts and partners to scale up support to affected children and their families in order to respond to immediate needs, including:

• Drinking water was distributed to frontline responders and those living in the directly affected location around the Beirut port;
• Conducting preliminary assessments on warehouses, schools, cold rooms, water infrastructure and health facilities including hospitals and specialize intensive care unit for newborns;
• An estimated 90 percent of stored vaccines supplies were rescued from the damaged warehouse in the port;
• Supporting the reunification of children who have been separated from their family and the setting up of a hotline;
• Providing psychosocial support to help children cope with bereavement and trauma.
• Working with youth volunteers helping with the clean-up in different areas;
• Establishing a cash transfer programme for temporary housing assistance for families displaced by the loss of their houses.

To be able to respond to these huge immediate needs, UNICEF urgently requires nearly US$4.4 million.

Original source: UNICEF
Published on 6 August 2020