Locate Victims Beirut
Localiser Victimes Beyrouth | |
 | |
| Motto | For a Safer Lebanon, a Better Lebanon |
|---|---|
| Formation | 4 August 2020 |
| Type | Grassroots Support Organization |
| Headquarters | Beirut, Lebanon |
| Field | Humanitarianism |
President | Zahraa Issa |
Vice President | Emma Sleiman |
Director | Akshit Anchan |
| Website | locatevictimsbeirut |
The Locate Victims Beirut (LVB; French: Localiser Victimes Beyrouth) is a humanitarian organization based in Beirut, Lebanon. Founded as a grassroots support organization, LVB's mission is to "mobilize the power of volunteers and the generosity of its donors to bring assistance and solace to those affected in the 2020 Beirut explosion, and to promote mutual understanding, cooperation and lasting peace amongst everyone".[1]
The organization was born on 4 August 2020, hours after the explosion, when the founder, Zahraa Issa, decided to help families find their loved ones. Emma Sleiman, the founder of Missing in Beirut (another initiative with the same goal), joined in on 5 August 2020 after the initiators decided that "a central effort was necessary to have the greatest impact".[2]
History[edit]
Background[edit]
On the afternoon of 4 August 2020, a fire broke out in Warehouse 12 at the Port of Beirut.[3] Warehouse 12 was waterside, next to the grain silos, and stored the ammonium nitrate that had been confiscated from MV Rhosus, alongside a stash of fireworks.[3] Around 17:55 local time (14:55 UTC), a team of nine firefighters and one paramedic, known as Platoon 5, was dispatched to fight the fire.[4]
The explosion, likely triggered by the stored fireworks, was felt over 240 kilometers (150 miles) away.[5] It rocked central Beirut and sent a red-orange cloud into the air, which was briefly surrounded by a white condensation cloud.[6] By the next morning, the main fire that led to the explosion had been extinguished.[7]
Homes as far as 10 kilometers (6 miles) away were damaged by the blast,[8] and up to 300,000 people were left homeless by the explosion.[9][10] The grain silos were largely destroyed,[11] aggravating food shortages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and a severe financial crisis.[12] The Lebanese government declared a two-week state of emergency.[13] Lebanese civilians from every region in Lebanon came to help by offering food, cleaning the streets, and helping NGOs.[14]
Founding and Structure[edit]
The organization was founded upon merger of two individual initiatives, Locate Victims Beirut and Missing in Beirut. Zahraa Issa adopted the title of President, while Emma Sleiman adopted that of Vice President.[2][15] They collectively represent the organization as co-founders in all press and media inquires. The same day, Akshit Anchan took the office of Director.[16] At the beginning of the initiative, the structure of the organization was set up loosely, but as time progressed sectors and roles were solidified. At the forefront of LVB, are its Board of Directors, consisting of 12 young people from countries across the world (including Lebanon, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, India and United States), led by its president and Vice President.[1] LVB has also cited the contribution of the community and its 50+ volunteers located across Lebanon and the continent of Europe as the backbone of their organization.[1]
Characteristics[edit]
Objective and Mission[edit]
The original objective, from where LVB derives its name, is to "locate, identify, and aid, all those who had been affected by the 2020 Beirut Port explosion". Through the course of the latter half of 2020, the organization's mission evolved to encompass a wider goal; "To bring aid and support to those impacted by the financial crisis, political turmoil, and COVID-19 pandemic".[1][17] The official mission statement states that: "(our) mission is to mobilize the power of virtual volunteers and the generosity of its donors. Born of a desire to bring assistance and solace to those affected in the August Port explosions, we aspire to promote mutual understanding, cooperation and lasting peace amongst everyone."[1]
Logo and Identity[edit]
The LVB logo was designed by Kinda Ghandour, the LVB Director of Design. They were inspired by the Flag of Lebanon, and designed the logo to portray solidarity and pride for Lebanon. The logo is used across all LVB materials and stands as a unifying mark for all associated with the organization.[17][18]
Projects[edit]
LVB conducts projects administered by its Directors. They include:
- Creation and regular updation of LVB's 2020 Beirut explosion Database, and
- Uniting Beirut's hospitals, non-governmental organizations and other official entities, and
- Assistance in relief efforts including donations to on-ground volunteer and emergency personnel, and
- COVID-19 relief in the form of medicine, supplies, food, water, and funds to pay for rent, hospital bills, and other needs.
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Locate Victim Beirut's Strategic Response Progress Report, published and accessed on March 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Locate Victims Beirut: A youth-led initiative helping people find their loved ones". Mohammed Bin Rashed Al Maktoum Global Initiatives. Retrieved 2021-03-18.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "In a horrific instant, a burst of power that ravaged Beirut". AP NEWS. 2020-08-05. Retrieved 2021-03-18.
- ↑ "Beirut explosion: The story of Platoon Five - BBC News". BBC News. 2020-08-30. Archived from the original on 30 August 2020. Retrieved 2021-03-18.
- ↑ Bressan, David. "Beirut Explosion Generates Seismic Waves Equivalent of a Magnitude 3.3 Earthquake". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-03-18.
- ↑ Baker, Ryan Pickrell, Charles Davis, Sinéad. "Beirut is searching for survivors after a massive explosion rocked the Lebanese capital. At least 135 people are dead and 5,000 are wounded". Business Insider. Retrieved 2021-03-18.
- ↑ "Satellite Images Show Aftermath of Beirut Blast". NPR.org. Retrieved 2021-03-18.
- ↑ CNN, Ghazi Balkiz, Tamara Qiblawi and Ben Wedeman. "Huge explosion rocks Beirut, injuring thousands across Lebanese capital". CNN. Retrieved 2021-03-18.
- ↑ "Beirut explosion: Lebanon's government 'to resign' as death toll rises". BBC News. 2020-08-10. Retrieved 2021-03-18.
- ↑ Najjar, Ted Regencia,Linah Alsaafin,Farah. "Beirut explosion death toll rises to 135 as 5,000 wounded: Live". aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2021-03-18.
- ↑ Sullivan, Oliver Holmes (now); Helen; Ratcliffe (earlier), Rebecca; Holmes, Oliver; Elgot, Jessica; Borger, Julian; Blackall, Molly; Bramley, Ellie Violet (2020-08-05). "Death toll in Lebanese capital rises to 135 as about 5,000 people are wounded – as it happened". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2021-03-18.
- ↑ "Food insecurity hits middle class amid Lebanon's economic crisis". France 24. 2020-07-01. Retrieved 2021-03-18.
- ↑ "Lebanon Declares 2-Week State of Emergency After Deadly Blast | Voice of America - English". voanews.com. Retrieved 2021-03-18.
- ↑ Welle (www.dw.com), Deutsche. "Beirut blast: Lebanon's young helping the country's most desperate | DW | 14.08.2020". DW.COM. Retrieved 2021-03-18.
- ↑ "https://dev.tv/en/videos/emma-sleiman-zahraa-issa-lebanon-post-explosion-solidarity-en". dev.tv. Retrieved 2021-03-18. External link in
|title=(help) - ↑ Gold, Nicola; Korn, Nadine. "How Young People Can Be Changemakers". The Innovation in Politics Institute. Retrieved 2021-03-18.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Home | Locate Victims Beirut". locatevictimsbeirut.com. Retrieved 2021-03-18.
- ↑ "LVB Instagram". instagram.com. Retrieved 2021-03-18. Unknown parameter
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