The devastating explosion, destroying the port of Beirut in August 2020, also severely damaged many businesses and residences within several miles. Close to 300,000 people were made homeless, or partially homeless, among them being 20,000 dock workers and their families who lost their jobs overnight. Of these, 826 Palestinian families living in the 5 Beirut Palestinian refugee camps had heads of households who worked at the port who lost their livelihoods overnight, thus affecting about 4,000 refugees.
To date, 720 of these refugee families have received help by way of emergency Cash Aid Assistance and medical aid provided by PAUK’s partner organisation in Lebanon (which has been operating in different locations in the country for over 20 years), working in conjunction with local volunteers whose hearts were touched by the impact of the disaster. Work will continue until all the identified families have received assistance.