PWH Responds to Beirut Explosion

40 FT CONTAINER OF DONATED MEDICAL SUPPLIES HEADED FOR LEBANON

Local Effort. Global Impact.

Portland, Maine (October 13, 2020) - On Tuesday, October 13 from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Partners for World Health (PWH) packed its 10th shipping container this year with medical supplies and equipment to be sent to a country in need. This shipment, filled with approximately 15,000 pounds of donated supplies and equipment, is headed to Beirut, Lebanon in response to the August explosion.

On August 11, PWH began a fundraising effort to make this shipment of crucial medical supplies possible and our Maine community quickly responded. Within the week, PWH had received enough support to move forward with the shipment meeting our goal of $7,000 to send this container to those in need.

The blast in Lebanon killed nearly 200 people, 6,500 were injured, and 300,000 people were left homeless. It has furthered the vulnerabilities of Lebanese and Syrian families living in Lebanon, tearing apart homes, families and has left critical damage to the health infrastructure and remaining medical supplies.

After weeks of logistic planning, PWH identified the following medical hospitals and clinics to receive this in-kind support: Al Amal Medical Clinic (Arsal); Al Duneyah Hospital (Tripoli); Al Rahma Hospital (Arsal); and Baladyeh Clinic (Arsal). These medical facilities face dire needs for basic supplies such as gauze, masks, and gloves, as well as the equipment that “makes a hospital a hospital.”

PWH delivers these items annually to countries in need. These shipments are made possible through financial donations as well as the tireless efforts of dedicated staff and devoted volunteers.

PWH staff and volunteers load these 40-foot long shipping containers at their Canco Road warehouse. The team ensures every inch of the container is filled with medical items that will have an extreme impact in the developing world.