Glass wounds, houses without windows, doors or walls. This was the help after the explosion in Beirut

Thousands of tonnes of ammonium nitrate have been stored improperly over the years in the port of Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. Despite warnings that the substance - used in the production of fertilizers as well as explosives - posed a huge threat, the authorities did nothing. On August 4, there was a fire followed by a gigantic explosion. He destroyed much of the city, including tens of thousands of homes. At least 200 people have died, and many more have been injured in collapsing buildings or broken windows.

For years, the Polish Center for International Aid Foundation has been helping in Lebanon mainly to refugees from war-torn Syria - of whom there are about a million in this small country. Now also to Lebanese families in Beirut. Emergency support for the injured began in the first hours after the explosion. Further aid required funds - 900,000 were raised in a short time. PLN, including 100 thousand. PLN on a joint collection of PCPM and Gazeta.pl.

- A month after the outbreak, we could already talk about regular projects for over 1000 families in Beirut and its vicinity. The explosion has changed a lot who and how we help. Suddenly, the Lebanese became the recipients of humanitarian aid and they remain in the group of those in need - enumerates Agnieszka Nosowska, deputy head of the mission in Lebanon.

When the news about the outbreak reached Poland, she wrote on Facebook:

Fight against time

Tomasz Lipert, who supports the PCPM Medical Rescue Team in the field of logistics, on August 5 in Warsaw fought against time. - Either you pack everything and deliver in-kind assistance and medical equipment to the airport, or the plane will fly empty. You have a few hours to make purchases, prepare waybills, deliver on cargo and clear the goods. If one piece of the puzzle disappears, the entire mission is at stake. So we fought against time and everyone bent over backwards to make it succeed. I think that the well-known slogan "all hands on deck" perfectly reflects that day - he emphasizes.

Fortunately, he did not act alone.

- says Tomasz. - Fighting against time is a lot of stress. Any help is worth its weight in gold. We needed this disinterested, sincere reaction from people back then, not only physically but also mentally - he adds.

24 hours

- Despite the extremely short time in which we were called up, we operated like a well-oiled machine - emphasizes Joanna Byszewska-Zapletal, coordinator of the development project, who flew to Lebanon on August 5, less than 24 hours after the explosion.

- The appointed team consisted of a dozen people and consisted of two teams - adds Przemo (this is what the Lebanese call them) Rembielak, a specialist of the PCPM Foundation for fire safety and a long-term trainer of Lebanese firefighters in Civil Defense. - One was the doctors and paramedics from the PCPM Medical Rescue Team, the other - people dealing with development and humanitarian projects on a daily basis. The medics went out into the field. They changed ad hoc dressings, mainly in people injured by the ubiquitous glass. We installed the door where the explosion broke it together with the frames. People responsible for the projects were already planning long-term activities and talking to the residents of Beirut about the needs and losses, he reports a year after these events.

Everyone rolled up their sleeves

The foundation's office in Lebanon is located approximately 6 km from the site of the explosion. None of the PCPM employees suffered. The enormity of the losses, which they tried to estimate in the field from the very beginning, was devastating.

For those who flew to Lebanon on August 5, the first challenge was to pack for an unpredictably long stay in Lebanon in about three hours.

- Before the explosion, I planned to fly there a few days later, but the explosion and the flight organized by the Polish government accelerated it. On site, apart from field work, there were still many tasks behind the desk: coordination, data collection, retrieval of equipment from military warehouses, planning. An additional task suddenly became contact with the media, because the eyes of many Poles were focused on Lebanon - admits Agnieszka Nosowska. - We were all extremely motivated and willing to act, but we also found ourselves in a new, unknown situation. There were amazing moments when everyone, regardless of their function: coordinators, logisticians, drivers, social workers, rolled up their sleeves - he adds.

Emotions drowned out basic needs

Ewa Grodek - coordinator of development projects in Lebanon - when asked about what was the most difficult at that time, she replies: - Our emotions drowned out our basic needs, such as drinking water, resting, eating a meal. As a team, we remembered how important it is not to forget about these needs in order to have the strength to continue. Simple and logical, and how difficult it was in that situation.

- The most important thing was to be attentive to people and their needs, to refrain from making impossible promises and to be honest about what and in what form we can do for them - Agnieszka adds on behalf of the entire team.

- admits Ewa.

What's next?

- Unfortunately, the list of needs in Lebanon is not diminishing and all humanitarian aid looks like a drop in the ocean. But without these drops it would be even worse - Agnieszka assesses. - Let's not forget about Lebanon and its inhabitants - appeals Ewa Grodek.

One year after the explosion, Lebanon is plunging into a deeper economic crisis, and its inhabitants cannot afford to meet basic needs, such as medicines or food for children. That is why Gazeta.pl once again joins forces with PCPM to raise funds to help those most in need. Anyone can support helping in Lebanon by paying any amount via pcpm.org.pl/liban.