Beirut

A view of the port area devastated by the massive explosion that took place on 4 August in Beirut, Lebanon.
© UNOCHA

Put ‘people before politics’ in Lebanon, urges Guterres, following Beirut disaster

23 September 2020
Humanitarian Aid

It’s time that leaders across Lebanon put “people before politics” following last month’s explosions in Beirut port, said the UN chief on Wednesday, which must serve as a wake-up call following a year of upheaval and clamour for reform on all fronts.

UNICEF team, including Mohamad Saleh, removing the debris from Medawar street in Qarantina region of Beirut, Lebanon.
UNICEF/Ramzi Haidar

News in Brief 4 September 2020

4 September 2020
News in Brief
  • More support needed to aid Beirut children's return to class
  • Violence could spark new DR Congo mass displacement
  • UNRWA appeal to help Palestine refugees keep COVID at bay
Audio -
4'1"
UNICEF, with local partner Himaya, provides Faten, the mother of three, with psychosocial support after the catastrophic explosion in Beirut on 4 August 2020.
© UNICEF/IanFrancis

News in Brief 2 September 2020

2 September 2020
News in Brief
  • Refugee students shut out of school due to COVID
  • ICC speaks out against US sanctions of senior officials
  • WHO backs steroids for COVID patients, but only severely ill
Audio -
3'33"
Geitawi Public Gardens, a child-friendly space in Beirut, Lebanon.
© UNICEF Lebanon

Beirut blast: Helping children cope with catastrophe

2 September 2020
Interviews

For many children, their safest place is at home. In Beirut, last month’s huge explosion that devasted the port and surrounding neighbourhoods, changed that forever.

In an interview with UN News’s Daniel Johnson, child protection officer Roula Abi Saad, describes what UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is doing to address their fears, in safe spaces dotted around Lebanon’s capital city.

Audio -
In Beirut, UNICEF personnel and partners join efforts with local residents to clean up the streets (file)
© UNICEF/Pasqual Gorriz/UN

Beirut facing acute environmental crisis, warns UN energy specialist

1 September 2020
Economic Development

Contamination from hazardous chemicals, landfill sites at capacity, and water pollution, are among the most urgent challenges faced by the Lebanese authorities and UN teams tackling the huge task of clearing up Beirut, following the massive explosion in the city’s port on 4 August.

Scenes of destruction at the port area due to the massive explosion that tore through Beirut, Lebanon.
© UNICEF

UNICEF: Time is of the essence, as water shortages compound desperate situation in Beirut

28 August 2020
Humanitarian Aid

Risk of water-borne diseases is rising in Beirut, in the aftermath of the devastating explosion in early August, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has warned, calling for urgent action to ensure families and responders have access to safe water and sanitation. 

Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO’s Director-General (left), visits a school in Beirut which was damaged by the explosion on August 4th.
UNESCO

UNESCO launches Beirut recovery fund for culture, heritage and education

27 August 2020
Culture and Education

To support the rehabilitation of schools, historic heritage buildings, museums and the creative economy, which suffered extensive damage in the deadly explosions that shook Beirut earlier this month, the head of the UN cultural agency on Thursday launched an international fund-raising appeal.

 

UNICEF, with local partner Himaya, provides Faten, the mother of three, with psychosocial support after the catastrophic explosion in Beirut on 4 August 2020.
© UNICEF/IanFrancis

UNICEF works to ease suffering of children whose lives have been ‘turned upside-down’ after Beirut blast

25 August 2020
Humanitarian Aid

Following a deadly explosion earlier this month, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has delivered some 67 tons of critical humanitarian supplies to affected children and families in Beirut.

Sonia Almassad, a Field Programme Officer from Syria, with the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Yemen.
© UNOCHA

News in Brief 21 August 2020

21 August 2020
News in Brief
  • Yemen: 300,000 people lose homes, livelihoods in catastrophic flooding  
  • One in two children show signs of trauma, stress after Beirut blast, says UN Children’s Fund 
  • Russian dissident must get the care he needs after suspected poisoning: UN rights office 
Audio -
3'53"
WFP Assistance to Lebanon
WFP/Malak Jaafar

How can the UN help prevent another Beirut disaster?

20 August 2020
Economic Development

The devastation caused by the Beirut explosions on 4 August has focused attention on the risks involved in the transportation and storage of dangerous goods around the world. The UN is at the forefront of international efforts to reduce these risks and save lives.