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Lebanese Solidarity

One million dollars raised in one hour: the Lebanese Diaspora in the US join hands to help the most disadvantaged

Beit el-Baraka, the Lebanese Food Bank and Seal are leading this initiative aimed at supporting 50,000 families over a one month period.

Breakdown of food donations.

One million US dollars raised within the span of one hour last Saturday was the result of an amazing outpouring of generosity from members of the Lebanese Diaspora in the United States. It came in response to an initiative by the NGO's Seal, Beit al-Barak and the Lebanese Food Bank to help a growing number of poor and needy in Lebanon.

The deteriorating economic situation and the subsequent casualisation of workforce, that was accentuated by a confinement order to help fight the coronavirus, have prompted the three organizations to join forces and organize a fundraising event. The money raised will cover food needs for 50,000 families, or some 175,000 people, for one month.

Maya Ibrahimchah, the founder and president of Beit el-Baraka, realized how difficult it was to provide assistance locally because of the economic crisis and the financial restrictions imposed by the Lebanese banks. "Last week, I came up with the idea of getting in touch with those in charge at Seal, , a US-based NGO with members of the diaspora settled in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York."

It wasn't Ibrahimchah's first attempt to help the needy. Nearly nine months before the popular uprising broke out on October 17of last year, she opened a "supermarket" in Beirut's Ashrafiyeh neighborhood where destitute elderly can get food supplies for free.

Ibrahimchah contacted Georges Bitar and Norma Haddad, respectively Seal's founding member and executive director, who quickly agreed during a videoconference to organize a webinar (online siminar) to make potential donors aware of the serious humanitarian crisis in Lebanon and secure their support.


95 associations

Securing food supplies to a maximum number of people in all of Lebanon is not an easy mission. Ibrahimchah soon requested the assistance of the Lebanese Food Bank (LFB), a non-profit organization established by Lebanese businessmen in 2012 to fight hunger in Lebanon. LFB provides food on a daily basis to families and individuals in need mainly through the collection of surplus food from partner restaurants, hotels, caterers and supermarkets. The enthusiasm of LFB Executive Director Soha Zeaiter was immediate.

Zeaiter and Ibrahimchah decided to coordinate with 95 other politically independent organizations they have selected in order to increase their chances of success. For five days, these NGOs worked hard to identify those who are in most need from all regions, communities and age groups.

A team of 15 volunteers was charged of preparing food boxes that will be distributed throughout Lebanon, using LFB trucks. Food suppliers will include farmers who have been supported by Seal for several years as part of a cooperative project.

With preparations in place, Ibrahimchah and Zeaiter made a clear presentation at the webinar during which filmmaker Nadine Labaki appeared in a video to comment on the extremely difficult living conditions of a large part of the Lebanese population. Donors in the diaspora and from Lebanon reacted quickly. Within the span of one hour, one million US dollars has been raised.

"I expected a maximum of $300,000!" said Ibrahimchah, thanking BEMO bank, for committing to give the entire amount without retaining any percentage.

Ibrahimchah is happy with the result, but knows that it is a tough mission. "Studies published this year show that extreme poverty has increased enormously: households living on less than $4 a day now account for 20% of the population, compared to 8% before," she noted, adding that a class of "new poor" has emerged in Lebanon. "A large portion of the middle class has become poorer, changing the face of poverty."

Those who wish to donate, can do so via the following accounts:

International transfers:

BEMO bank s.a.l

IBAN: LB89009300000002149313681USD

SWIFT: EUMOLBBE

ACCOUNT: 0214931

Local transfers:

BEMO bank s.a.l

IBAN: LB61 0093 0000 0002 1493 1366 1LB (LBP)

IBAN: LB22 0093 0000 0002 1493 1366 1USD (USD)

Info@beitelbaraka.org

www.beitebaraka.org


(This article was originally published in French in L'Orient-Le Jour on the 7th of April)


One million US dollars raised within the span of one hour last Saturday was the result of an amazing outpouring of generosity from members of the Lebanese Diaspora in the United States. It came in response to an initiative by the NGO's Seal, Beit al-Barak and the Lebanese Food Bank to help a growing number of poor and needy in Lebanon. The deteriorating economic situation and the subsequent...