Following the devastating explosion in Beirut, Lebanon on Tuesday night, hospitals have been left overwhelmed, quickly reaching capacity with pleas for blood supplies.
With the death toll reportedly rising above 100 and more than 4,000 people left wounded, there’s many needing to be treated in the country’s capital.
However, according to CNN, in a press conference on Wednesday morning, Lebanon’s Health Minister Hamad Hassan said that four hospitals in Beirut have been left out of service due to damages from the blast.
Videos have been circulating news channels as well as social media and show fire and smoke coming from the port area before the blast, which is followed by a mushroom cloud. The blast was said to be heard 240km away on the island of Cyprus. Authorities have blamed a supply of reactive chemical ammonium nitrate for the explosion.
In order to help those who have been affected by the blast, here’s some ways you can help.
Donate money to the Lebanese Red Cross
Many fundraisers have been launched since the devastating blast, but the Lebanese Red Cross has issued a statement saying that any third party fundraisers set up in their name are not authorised and are not legal. To donate directly to the Lebanese Red Cross you can do so by their official website or app, or by sending a cheque or wire transfer.
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Donate blood
An “urgent” plea for blood donations has been issued by the Lebanese Red Cross. If you’re based in the Beirut area and are safe, well and healthy there are open blood centres for people to donate in: Tripoli, Jounieh, Spears, Antelias, Zahle, Saida and Nabatieh.
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We will continue to update this as we hear more on ways to help.
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Images: Lebanese Red Cross Instagram
