The children's aid organisation Terre des hommes is supporting children who are victims of the blast in Beirut, which killed more than 200 people, injured 6,000 and displaced 300,000. This stressful context affects the psychosocial well-being of many children and their parents. Targeted support is necessary to strengthen their resilience.
The blast on 4th August made 300,000 people homeless, after their homes were suddenly destroyed. Most of Beirut's inhabitants are now living under intense stress. Terre des hommes (Tdh) observes strong family and community solidarity; but sometimes this kind of support is insufficient to face the distress of some survivors. “I was sitting on the sidewalk, and it suddenly felt like an earthquake. I was afraid. A few seconds later I heard a loud noise, I thought I was going to die... My ears are hurting! I think I’m going to die next week," says the 10-year-old girl Sarah, still in shock, who lives in the Burj Hamoud neighbourhood.
Since then, children's daily lives and their bearings are totally disrupted. "Children have flashbacks, nightmares and panic attacks. Some have not processed the event yet and are going through different stages of grieving. Children are traumatised and scared. They are having a hard time to understand the situation. Some have forgotten their parents' names due to the shock. They no longer have a sense of safety and security," says Leen Farhat, child protection specialist at Terre des hommes (Tdh) in Lebanon. Specialised psychosocial support will accelerate natural recovery process for children like Sarah.
Tdh has been working alongside the Lebanese population since 1977. Our teams are mobilising to provide psychosocial support to children, particularly through recreational activities, to help them regain their mental well-being as quickly as possible. Tdh is also committed to the reunification of children and families, who have been separated during the disaster and is considering providing hygiene kits and financial support to families, so that the population of Beirut can quickly regain a form of independence and dignity.
Donate: Lebanon Emergency or CCP 10-11504-8