Crisis watch

Lebanon – Beirut explosion

CARE has been distributing food parcels in neighbourhoods devastated by the massive explosion at the port of Beirut. As a first step, 1,100 food parcels are being distributed, in cooperation with local civil society organisations. This includes house-to-house distributions. We aim to provide food parcels and hot meals to an initial target of 20,000 people.

CARE is also planning a multi-purpose cash response to meet urgent shelter needs, as well as providing hygiene and dignity kits and psychosocial support as people recover from this incredibly traumatic event. The explosion has exacerbated what was already a serious humanitarian situation, including an increasing number of COVID-19 cases. We are also planning livelihoods and small business support in response to the worsening economic crisis.

• “The people I meet are devastated, but the solidarity is incredible” – read more in our story Lebanon disaster: CARE begins emergency distributions in Beirut
• “There is nothing left of my city, Beirut, except its inhabitants, who have learned to survive, to make a living, to be resilient” – read more in our story Eye witness: Beirut explosion plunges Lebanon deeper into crisis

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Lebanon: Massive explosion in Beirut

The explosion that struck Beirut on 4 August has brought further devastation to a country already reeling from a triple crisis (economic crisis, food crisis, and COVID-19 health crisis). Immediately following the explosion, CARE Lebanon Country Director, Bujar Hoxha, said:

Our hearts are breaking for Lebanon tonight. This horrific explosion is going to further overrun our overwhelmed hospitals, as cases of COVID-19 have tripled over the last month. People are already suffering from the collapse of our economy. We will rebuild but tonight we are absolutely devastated.

CARE is already responding, beginning by delivering life-saving food assistance, via local organisations, to thousands of people in Beirut. We are preparing to provide further food, shelter, hygiene and sanitation items, as well as psychosocial support, to people affected by this devastating disaster.

• Read more in our media release: CARE International one of first international NGOs to begin vital aid assistance to those affected by Beirut blast
• Donate now to our Beirut Explosion Response Appeal

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• Watch this video with footage taken by CARE staff in Beirut in the aftermath of the explosion:

Yemen – floods affecting IDP camps

During the month of July, heavy rains and storms have affected various parts of Yemen. These have worsened the already fragile conditions in camps for internally displaced people which had already been badly affected by floods in April.

In Marib governorate, nearly 20,000 people – the majority in IDP camps – are affected. In Hajjah governorate, the rains affected households in the valleys and the makeshift shelters used by internally displaced people. There are 12 different camps for internally displaced people in the areas currently affected by flooding.

The ongoing rains and flooding will encourage the spread of cholera amidst the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, with limited resources from government to intervene. The government is appealing to the UN and INGOs for support in Marib and Hajjah governorates.

CARE plans to help with immediate cash assistance, key relief items such as buckets and blankets to some 2,000 households as well as trucking clean water to around 4,000 households affected by flooding. CARE Yemen is seeking further funding to help tens of thousands of people in the coming days.

Aaron Brent, Country Director for CARE in Yemen, says:

It is getting hard to count all the multiple challenges and disasters facing Yemen right now. Not only have lives and homes been lost, but also precious crops and livelihoods. Traditionally agriculture has been a mainstay of the Yemeni economy, and with looming hunger facing some 20 million people, this is a new blow that will be hard for the Yemeni people to survive.

Nepal – floods and landslides; COVID-19 response

Since the beginning of July, continuous rainfall has resulted in flooding and landslides in several provinces of Nepal. More than 100 people have died, and thousands of families are displaced. The flooding has also caused damage to infrastructure, crops and livestock. The immediate relief needs include food for the displaced, clean drinking water, temporary shelter, hygiene and dignity kits, and protection.

CARE currently implements a Nepal Emergency Response Frame stockpile in partnership with DFID and began distributing relief materials to affected people from mid-July.

Find out more about how CARE Nepal is continuing to help people respond to the coronavirus pandemic, in this infographic (PDF, 5MB):

CARE Nepal Covid-19 response program - infographic (July 2020)

Bangladesh – monsoon floods

Heavy monsoon rain and water from upstream sources has caused slow-onset severe flooding in low-lying areas of northern Bangladesh. An estimated 2.4 million people are affected, with more than 548,000 families losing their homes.

CARE Bangladesh took prompt action to support vulnerable communities to reduce their loss and damage before the flood waters peak. Amongst other initiatives, CARE distributed 2,700 dignity kits to flood-affected women and girls of reproductive age and the transgender community in Kurigram and Gaibandha districts between 13-15 July. This rapid early action provided these vulnerable communities with means to look after and help protect themselves from COVID-19 even if they are forced to temporarily leave their homes.

Overall, CARE Bangladesh aims to reach 255,500 people with WASH, Shelter, Protection, Food Security, Emergency communications and early recovery activities, working with partners.