PWRDF Responds to Devastating Beirut Explosion

On August 4, a devastating explosion in Beirut caused substantial turmoil, destroying homes, killing dozens and injuring thousands. Tens of thousands of people have lost their homes and vital infrastructure has been damaged beyond repair.  This has come at a difficult time for Lebanon as they are already dealing with an economic crisis, political instability, and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The Primate's World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF) has pledged $25,000 to an ACT Alliance response to the explosion. The ACT Alliance has been responding to the refugee crisis in Lebanon as part of their regional appeal covering Syria, Lebanon and Jordan.

The Government of Canada has also launched a dedicated Matching Fund for the Lebanon crisis that will double the contributions of Canadians and support the relief work of the members of Canada’s Humanitarian Coalition, including the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. Through its membership in the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, PWRDF will be participating in the Humanitarian Coalition appeal to support people of Lebanon through this crisis. 

“This is an unprecedented emergency on top of so many other challenges that the people of Lebanon have been facing,” says Will Postma, PWRDF’s executive director. “We thank and support the Canadian government for coming alongside Canadian aid agencies to respond quickly to urgent needs in Beirut.”

The government of Canada will match every dollar donated by individuals to the Humanitarian Coalition and its members between August 4 and August 24, up to a maximum of $2 million. Donations to PWRDF marked for the Beirut explosion emergency response will be matched.

​How you can help

Please pray for all who have been affected by this disaster, for our partners in the region as they work to save lives and care for the injured, and for those who have died. 

You can also donate to PWRDF’s Beirut explosion emergency response. Gifts made before August 24 will be matched 1:1 by the Government of Canada, through the Humanitarian Coalition, up to a total of $2 million.

• Please visit our online donation page at pwrdf.org/give-today and make your gift in Emergency Response, indicating Beirut explosion in the message box.
• Call 1-866-308-7973 toll-free (please leave a message and we will return your call), or 416-822-9083 to speak immediately with someone who can process your donation over the phone.
• Write Beirut explosion in the memo field of your cheque and mail to PWRDF, 80 Hayden Street, 3rd floor, Toronto, Ontario, M4Y 3G2.
• Download and share this bulletin message with your community (it is designed to be printed double-sided and cut in two, but the text can also be copied into an e-blast).

This article has been compiled from several posted on PWRDF's website.