Beirut Appeal - April 2021 update

District International - Beirut Appeal - April 2021

Background

Following the devastating blast in Beirut on Tuesday 4th August we worked with Rotary of Great Britain and Ireland we immediately launched an appeal across the District for clubs to send funds to contribute directly to District 2452 in Lebanon through their Disaster Response Appeal set up by Rotary of G B and I or directly to ShelterBox.

It quickly became clear that the long-term impact would be severe and long lasting and would affect the whole of Lebanon as it struggles to cope with a falling economy and rising cases of Covid-19. Immediately after the explosion a number of international agencies were working to provide hot meals, weatherproofing, hygiene and baby kits. A cash support programme was made available to re-locate people whose homes have been destroyed or severely damaged and an initial audit by ShelterBox concluded that their aid was not the best solution in such dense urban conditions.

The District International Committee worked with the Foundation Committee, District Executive Team and District Council to look for a longer term sustainable project that would help re-build and support the local community to recover and grow. Working with the Assistant Governors for the Bradford Group and Haworth and Worth Valley Rotary Club we established local links with Amelia, an Ambassadorial Scholar, now working in Beirut for Save the Children and President Habib from the Rotary Club of Beirut Cosmopolitan, District 2452. 

Throughout we took account of regular updates from Rotary of Great Britaian and Ireland and have built stronger links with Amelia and President Habib.  The Rotary club of Howarth and Worth Valley have made Amelia an Honorary Rotarian so that she can benefit from attending her local Rotary Club in Beirut as a guest.

In November Aquabox sent out 144 Family water filters and 4 Community water filters to Beirut.  These were managed by the association of Lebanese Rotary Clubs. Building upon these links the District launched the following appeal at the District Council in January 2021.

Proposal

The Rotary club of Beirut Cosmopolitan had ambitious plans to rebuild one of the four local hospitals destroyed in the blast. It is the only state run hospital in Beirut, one that is essential to the local community. Working with International partners they were hoping to raise adequate funds to re-equip the paediatric ward. We took a proposal to District 1040  that we join with other Rotary Clubs and Districts across the world to contribute towards the Global Grant already initiated by the RC of Beirut Cosmopolitan.

Beirut Cosmopolitan already had an agreement in place for a Global Grant for the Karantina Public Hospital project.  Their target was approx. 400,000USD and as of the beginning of 2021 they were making good progress towards this having already fundraised around 330,000 USD to date. The Global Grant application was nearly complete and they aimed to wrap it up and submit it as son as possible. The aim was to re-equip the pediatric arm of the hospital providing equipment such as operating tables, operating lights, anesthesia machines and laparoscopy system.

President Habib confirmed that if we are able to raise funds in time, they would welcome District 1040 as one of their partners in the grant application.  We were confident that this would be the start of a long term collaboration between their club and clubs in our District.

The Foundation committee endorsed this approach and we were keen to take advantage of matched funding to make the maximum use of the money given.  For example, if:

District clubs contribute 10, 000 USD (approximately £7,500.00)

Foundation committee vote to match it with District designated Fund (DDF) 10, 000 USD 

The Rotary Foundation Matches the DDF contribution with another 10,000 USD

Total raised by District could potentially be 30,000 USD (approximately £22,000) 

We are fortunate that President Habib was able to join us at the District Council on the 30th January, and tell us more about this exciting project. 

Rotary Clubs across the District responded amazingly pledging a total of £12062.00 to date.  Within two weeks they had reached the target set and we were able to release the District Designated Fund Contribution which in turned enabled President Habib to reach his target and complete the grant application on February 14th 2021.

Many thanks go to the Rotary Clubs of  Bingley,  Beverley, Bradford, Bradford Bronte, Brigg, Brighouse, Cleethorpes,  Cleckheaton, Grimsby, Halifax, Halifax Calder, Howarth and Worth Valley, Hull, Humberside, Ilkley Wharfedale, Keighley, Leeds, Knaresborough,  Mirfield, Moors Gateway, Normanton, Ossett, Otley, Pocklington, Ripon, Roundhay,Thirsk, Scunthorpe, Pentagon,  Skipton Craven, Skipton, Stainborough, Wetherby Wharfedale, Weighton Wolds, Wensleydale,  Wakefield Chantry, York and York Vikings  for all their amazing contributions.  

38 Clubs in total plus three clubs, Northallerton, Northallerton Mowbray and Harrogate Brigantes contributed via the RC of Putney.

The Clubs across District 1040 made a significant contribution in a very short period and our thanks go out to every one of them.  As a District we are proud of all the Clubs have achieved. We are still receiving contributions and are already planning future projects in partnership with President Habib and the Rotary Club of Beirut Cosmopolitan.

Rotarian Carol Jordan

District 1040 International Chair

caroljordanx@aol.com

07890 523 938

Appendix: List of the Clubs and amounts