The GHA would like to pass on an urgent appeal for donations by the Saint George Hospital in Beirut:

“On the 4th of August 2020, Beirut suffered a massive explosion of such strength that it was felt as far as 150 miles away in Cyprus. At the current count, it has left more than 150 people dead, 5,000 injured and 300,000 homeless. In addition to the loss of lives, there has been extreme destruction of the vibrant cultural centre of Beirut and the integral infrastructure of the city. Amongst all the essential services and structures hit by this calamity was also Saint George Hospital University Medical Center (SGHUMC).

SGHUMC is the first hospital in the region that has been serving the local population for more than 150 years. Since its inception, SGHUMC has relied on the generous donations of its benefactors, enabling it to become a leading hospital in Lebanon, serving approximately 800 out an inpatients daily.

Our hospital, situated extremely close to the epicentre of the explosion, heartbreakingly lost four of our cherished nursing staff, twelve patients and one visitor. Also, more than a 100 of our healthcare professionals, doctors, residents, nurses and administrative staff sustained injuries, some of which are critical.

This disaster couldn’t have occurred at a worse time for Lebanon: hospitals have already been stretched to their maximum capacities due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the country’s unprecedented economic crisis. Now, 80% of SGHUMC sustained damage rendering it non-operational for the first time in its long history. 160 inpatients had to be evacuated in under two hours whilst we converted the hospital into a field hospital to administer urgent care to the injured with the very few means at hand.”

Please find a list of much needed equipment and medical supplies here and the appeal for further information on possibilities to support the hospital as well as contact details.