As a founding member of the UN, It is Canada’s duty to help.

As I’m sure many of you are aware, the devastating explosion in Beirut on August 4th 2020 has caused inscrutable damage and a massive humanitarian crisis.

Reported casualties have already reached the thousands, dead or injured. Not to mention that our people are sleeping on the streets and left homeless due to the impact of the blast that reached over 30km passed the point of explosion.

On top of the growing poverty and homelessness, the ammonium nitrate and other chemicals used in the explosion will impact our people’s health longterm. People have been told to stay inside and bolt up the shattered windows, as well as stay strong after being dragged to the ground by their government and nearby countries.

In any stable country, this type of disaster would be inimaginable, yet corrigible.
But for us, for a country that is experiencing the worst economical crisis since the civil war, a country that is emotionally and physically worn out, this is a death sentence.

Through all that, we are still rising and fighting. Hospitals have taken matters to the streets due to their overflowing emergency rooms from Covid-19 and the explosion. Doctors are treating patients in the dark without any electricity or medical supplies. Citizens are offering their homes on social media to those in need and donating their blood. Our people have given their heart, soul, blood, and tears to each other, but we can’t do it alone.

Beirut;the city,the hope, the spirit, the hospitality, the culture, the food, the nightlife and most importantly the people that we all know and love are fading away.

As such, we call upon the Canadian government to act now before it’s too late. As a founding and proud member of the United Nations, it is Canada’s duty to stand with our fellow human beings in this time of dispair. Tweets and well wishes will not save Beirut or it’s people.
I ask that the Canadian government begin working towards providing immediate aid in the following forms:
    1.    Electricity generators and emergency batteries
    2.    Medical supplies, first aid kits, and field hospitals
    3.    Emergency doctors and medical staff
    4.    Tents and other supplies for shelter

Having our port (the biggest source of income) blow up in our people’s faces during an economical crisis and prevent us from trading any goods has really dimmed the light at the end of the tunnel.

Borders may be difficult to open, but I ask that the Canadian government immediately work on a refugee program to provide asylum for those who no longer have a home, health or family.
To all those wanting to help on a personal level, here’s a list of what you can do:
    •    Visit the link below or share it with friends if you cannot donate: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/lebanon-relief?utm_term=re7R78DA2

(wherever you’re donating money,make sure that it is going straight to the lebanese people and not going through the government because our people will get none of it)
    •    Follow Impact Lebanon on social media for a list of vetted NGOs and updates on the situation/other ways to help
    •    Spread the word
This disaster has pained, broken homes, killed, injured, and traumatized many. Yet our people are out on the streets helping each other out during a time of a world pandemic. Our people have yet to loose hope. We ask you to do the same. Lebanese people are neither heartless, nor egocentric. Help the lebanese people gain their lives back.

(thank you to the lebanese community in cyprus for inspiring me to write this letter,pressuring cyprus to do the same)

I am calling uppon the lebanese communities all over the world to ask their government to help.

Sincerely, Emma Bilan Lebanese Canadian