International – 4th Aug 2020 – Beirut Port Explosion

Co-ordinating UK/Beirut Fundraising across the UK

UK/Beirut Karantina Hospital campaign - Global Grant approval

Thank you to every club and individual who helped RC Beirut Cosmopolitan reach the overall target of USD$391,000 for their Global Grant.

Just over $141k of the $391k for the Karantina Hospital has come from 116 Rotary Clubs, 2 Inner Wheel clubs, 4 Rotary Districts, and individuals from across the UK. This project has been a testament to the great teamwork Rotary is capable of – leveraging the Rotary network for the greater good. Amazing work everyone!

Post Global Grant approval by our wonderful Rotary Foundation, 6 clubs in the UK have made further contributions.

on Valentine's Day 2021, the Karantina Hospital Global Grant was submitted for authorisation to Rotary International

Putney Rotary raised the UK target to raise $140k in October 2020 and President Louise said, “In the UK, we’re privileged to have the NHS… healthcare for all. We’re committed to delivering these funds to rebuild the only state hospital in the capital Beirut, for those who cannot afford private healthcare. Thank you so much for standing with us and supporting the Karantina Hospital campaign. Together we are stronger.”

Lebanese picnic fundraising event

Rotary Club of Westminster International – Mohammed and President Michael, in conjunction with Agustina and Louise from Putney Rotary organised a Lebanese picnic during Lockdown 1.0 in September.

We soon sold out, within the Covid-19 Government guidelines of 30 people. It was a lovely afternoon, with delicious food, and £315 was raised for the Karantina state hospital. Thank you to everyone who participated and supported our picnic.

Rotarian David Small from Hedge End Rotary Club, and his wife Sally drove their classic car from John O’Groats to Land’s End to raise funds. An amazing adventure and thank you for raising over £2k for the Karantina Hospital Global Grant. Well done!

Maha Shakarchi - RC London with RC Beirut Cosmopolitan's banner

Rotary Club of London’s Maha Shakarchi donated her birthday money to the Karantina Hospital campaign – thank you so much Maha!

The Challenge – to raise USD$140k from UK

Putney Rotary Club wanted to raise funds to help the people of Lebanon, in the wake of a huge explosion at the port on the 4th August 2020 in Beirut, Lebanon.

On 4 August 2020, a large amount of ammonium nitrate stored at the port of the city of Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, exploded.

At least 200 deaths, 3 reported missing, 6,500 injuries, US$10–15 billion in property damage, and leaving an estimated 300,000 people have been left homeless. 50,000 houses, nine major hospitals and 178 schools have been damaged.

Media Reports on the Port Explosion

+ Beirut: Why has there been crisis after crisis in Lebanon? (BBC)

+ Beirut’s blast and Lebanon’s deeper crisis (Washington Post)

+ Beirut families search for loved ones feared trapped under rubble (Guardian)

It soon became clear that many Rotary Clubs and NGO’s in Beirut were dealing with the immediate necessities such as food, clothing, blankets and medical supplies. For those who’d lost their homes, residents, churches and schools were looking after them. Shelterbox weren’t assisting in this disaster. Thankfully, accommodation had been taken care of.

Rotaract Clubs (age 18 upwards) and Interact clubs (age 12-18) were working hard to clean up the debris from the explosion, helping with food boxes and raising funds.

Putney Rotary wanted to help with a sustainable project that reached beyond immediate needs, and Rotary Club of Beirut Cosmopolitan had a list of projects they were working on.

The area around the port of Beirut was devastated, and four hospitals closest to the port were damaged by the explosion. Three are private hospitals, one is Karantina Hospital – the only state hospital in the centre of Beirut.

This is significant because more than 50% of people in Lebanon live below the poverty line. They don’t have an NHS like we do in the UK. Without health insurance, one cannot be treated at the private hospitals, so Karantina state hospital is serving those in dire need of help in the capital city.

Rotary Club of Beirut Cosmopolitan is raising funds to equip the paediatric and neonatal surgical theatre at Karantina Hospital and the paediatric wing (USD$391k).

A Global Grant has been submitted for approval Rotary’s charity, the Rotary Foundation.

Rotary Area of Focus: Maternal and Child Health GG20119172 Submitted on 20/02/2021

“The Karantina Hospital is a public hospital situated in a needy area of Beirut. As the only public hospital in Beirut it has been helping to support those much in need and whose numbers are significant and increasing as more and more people fall below the poverty line. In a country where there is no properly functioning public health care system and where access to the private hospital system is highly dependent on private insurance the role of the Karantina Hospital becomes all the more important for the poverty stricken. Within the Hospital the Mother and Child section was built up and run thanks to the dedicated efforts of the NGO Assameh. When the Beirut Port explosion took place on August the 4th the hospital facilities were devastated due to the Hospital’s close proximity to the epicenter of the explosion – 900 metres away. In this project we have committed to supporting the rehabilitation of the hospital through the supply of equipment for the paediatric ward and associated operating theatre for paediatric and neonatal patients.” Extract from the GG, written by president Habib Saba.

UNICEF is supporting the neonatal ward, providing medical intervention for newborn babies. Rotary Club de Beyrouth is helping with the obstetrics section of the Karantina hospital.

By working with Rotary Club of Beirut Cosmopolitan in Lebanon, and leveraging our trusted Rotary network, we can ensure that the money we raise goes directly to the projects we support – safely and securely.

The Solution – Part 1

A member of Putney Rotary, Augustina, was moved to help the people of Beirut. Our Webmaster, Jonathan, quickly acted and set up a fundraising page with a target of £500. This target was very quickly revised upwards. Our team decided to support Rotary Clubs in Beirut in the aftermath of the explosion, to ensure that despite the unstable political situation in Lebanon, the money will go to the people on the ground.

The Solution – Part 2

Putney Rotary Club reached out to Rotary Clubs in Beirut to find out how we could help.

Past District Governor, and member of Putney Rotary, Colin, had kept in touch with Mimi, a member from Rotary Club of Beirut Cosmopolitan, who’d spoken at Putney Rotary Club in the past. Colin had continued to receive their newsletter and passed it on the President Louise, who spoke to President Habib Saba of RC Beirut Cosmopolitan, to find out what the situation was on the ground, and how Putney Rotary could help.

Once we’d established that immediate needs were taken care of, we spoke about what sustainable/long-term projects were needed.

Habib Saba and Louise McCance-Price then began working together, to help RC Beirut Cosmopolitan raise funds for their recovery projects.

Putney Rotary Club set up a date for President Habib Saba on the 17th August 2020, to come and talk to the club. We invited our District 1130 London Clubs and all interested parties to come along in support.

The Solution – Part 3 – Global Grant

In order to promote the Beirut campaign, President Habib Saba started with a talk at Putney Rotary on the 17th August.

Habib conveyed to us that RC Beirut Cosmopolitan’s focus for the recovery effort was the Karantina Public Hospital. President Louise quickly raised RC Putney’s own goal to contribute to the fundraising for RC Beirut Cosmopolitan’s projects.

Putney Rotary co-ordinates campaign in UK

It soon became clear that a central co-ordination effort was needed. President Louise offered to project manage the campaign in the UK to help set up talks at Rotary clubs across the country and manage enquiries and donations.

We had information published in the RGBI Humanitarian newsletter to spread the word, and other press. RC Putney offered to receive funds on UK clubs’ behalf, so we could transfer monies for the hospital over to Beirut in a lump sum.

Speaking across the UK

Since the 17th August, Presidents Habib and Louise were invited to speak to many Rotary Clubs across the UK to create awareness and raise funds for the Karantina Hospital Global Grant. Not only were individuals moved to donate, but we made some wonderful connections within our Rotary family along the way. Thank you for your amazing support.

District DDF – funding from D1130

Our District 1130 London pledged an incredible USD$18k which will be matched by the Rotary Foundation charity, so USD $36k will be contributed. D1130 also helped by receiving club donations.

It’s a real tribute to our Rotary network – we’ve received tremendous support from Scotland to Sudbury, Norfolk to London. Donations, words of encouragement and heartfelt support has kept us on purpose, to keep going in our mission.

President Habib Saba from Rotary Club of Beirut Cosmopolitan has put a huge amount of energy, effort and his precious time into this project. He’s worked with diligence, humour and integrity – tirelessly working with clubs around the world. Without Habib’s leadership, this Global Grant would never have come to fruition. Well done Habib!

Extract from the Global Grant:

“International Rotarians’ primary role has been to assist in the promotion and fundraising for the project.

On top of the overwhelming support received from clubs and Rotarians throughout the world there have been a number major and selfless coordinating partners that have played a pivotal Role in the promotion and fundraising including President Louise McCance-Price of Rotary Club of Putney in the UK and Steve Rutledge of Rotary Club of Whitby Sunrise in Canada. President Louise has had the predominant role in promoting the Karantina Hospital project in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, not to mention the efforts of D1040 International Committee Chair Carol Jordan (Rotary Club of Roundhay, UK), Assistant Governor, Frank Hardiman (Rotary Club of Purley, UK), and others, reaching out to districts and clubs and following up with Rotarians leading to the major contribution made by the UK Rotary Family. Rotarian Steve Rutledge and the team have in a similar fashion achieved outstanding results by reaching out to clubs and districts throughout Canada. Rotarian Randa Ghattas (Rotary Club of Posillipo), the clubs and the district team of D2100 in Italy also deserve recognition for their promotion and fund raising efforts not to mention the efforts and the contributions of clubs from the USA, Germany and The Netherlands.

In addition to promoting and fundraising for the project, the key international partners have also collaborated with the Host Club to review the Application and will also play a role by assisting in the due diligence and monitoring of the project execution.” – written by President Habib Saba, Rotary Club of Beirut Cosmopolitan.

President Habib Saba, Rotary Club Beirut Cosmopolitan with Head of Karantina Hospital

Photo with permission – Habib Saba (left) with Head of Mother and Child Section of Karantina Hospital – Dr Robert Sacy (Right) – Beirut, Lebanon 2020

Please see Dr Sacy’s letter to the Rotary Clubs below.

Rotary Club of Beirut Cosmopolitan’s video showing the Karantina Hospital being rebuilt and donations from clubs across the world.

President Louise McCance-Price ends,

“We are absolutely delighted that our wonderful Rotary Foundation approved the Global Grant on the 30th March 2021. Whilst co-ordinating the fundraising for the Karantina Hospital Global Grant in the UK with President Habib, Putney Rotary has made friends far and wide and strengthened Club bonds. Together we are indeed stronger. I hope we will be able to co-ordinate other campaigns and projects in a similar fashion in future – united in ‘service above self’ for the greater good. I’m proud to be a Rotarian. Well done team.”

Here’s the full article that was submitted to the Rotary Magazine for August 2021 in PDF format. Download Full UK/Beirut Magazine Article here

Unfortunately there wasn’t enough space to publish it. Editor David King kindly edited it down – Beirut Rotary Magazine article.