Equipping Lebanon's First Responders 2026
March 2026:
We are fundraising to equip Lebanon’s national first responders - The Civil Defense (الدفاع المدني) with essential and life-saving supplies.
Hundreds of Israeli airstrikes have hit Lebanon over the past six days, resulting in tens of thousands of people being displaced, over 100 villages and towns being declared military zones, and—at the time of writing—more than 200 people killed. The violence is ongoing, placing the Lebanese Civil Defense once again on the front lines. They are the first to arrive at the scenes of the strikes, even when the unimaginable happens. We urgently need to be there for them. And your support provides the critical resources these first responders need to keep vital rescue operations moving during this, unfortunately, precedented escalation. Almost three years on, they continue to operate under unimaginable pressure, responding to emergencies with limited and almost no resources while risking, sometimes even sacrificing, their lives to rescue civilians, provide first aid, and clear debris from devastated areas.
Despite the prolonged nature of the conflict, their work never stopped and the ongoing aggression has intensified the demands of their job. Ensuring they are equipped and supported remains an urgent need to sustain their lifesaving efforts and protect themselves and communities across the country.
We started this fundraiser in 2024 and have been able to secure a significant amount of funds for the Lebanese Civil Defense; we were able to purchase required equipment for a variety of centers across the country. This equipment saved lives and protected first responders.
Today, we find ourselves in this situation, yet again, with centers all over the country in need of immediate support. We are reactivating this campaign to raise funds and purchase required equipment.
**What will this campaign do? How many first responders and firefighters will you equip? What has this campaign already done?**
Your donations will be used to purchase equipment and meet the urgent needs of as many civil defense units as possible, based on our resources and their needs. In our past campaign, we were able to work with the following civil defense units at different capacities: Sour and Derdghaiya (Tyre), Baalbek, Bidnayel and Aarsal (Baalbek), Hrajel (Mount Lebanon), Kfarshima and Mreijeh (Baabda), Deir Al-Ahmar (Bekaa), Bachoura and Ras Beirut (Beirut). With your support, our last campaign raised $89,973 that went towards vehicles, boots, operation costs, firefighting equipment including bulletproof helmets, outfits, and boots, rescue equipment including ambulance set-ups and first aid supplies.
The Lebanese Civil Defense has 208 centers across the country. Civil Defense duties include disaster response, providing emergency first aid, ambulance services, evacuating civilians in the event of crises, enforcing public safety, and putting out fires. Volunteers are on call round the clock, seven days a week and you can reach them by dialing 125 from any phone in Lebanon.
Your involvement (even by just spreading the word!) will remind our first responders that they are not alone.
As the aggression continues we also want to reflect on the work that continues to give our communities hope and keeps us working in solidarity with one another towards a better future.
**Who is managing this campaign?**
This campaign is managed by a group of concerned residents who are long-time grassroots organizers in Beirut. We are compelled to try and support the Civil Defense in the face of economic, political, and military aggression.
**How can we send the donation?**
If you are in Beirut, one of the campaign managers can meet you wherever it is convenient. WHISH Money transfers and Western Union are also options. You can send your WHISH Money transfers or Western Union transfers to:
+ Rami Rajeh (+961-3-428066),
+ Bana Bashour (+961-3-059327), or
+ Yusra Bitar (+961-70-459066)
**How will the Civil Defense receive my donation?**
Your donation will be directly transferred to a volunteer procurement team on the ground who will purchase the equipment and hand them directly to the Civil Defense centers.
**How can we make sure the donations actually reach the Civil Defense?**
The whole operation will be managed through transparent procurement procedures, where all receipts and invoices are documented and shared with donors.
Every piece of equipment has the power to rescue and protect lives. We are filled with gratitude for the courage of our Civil Defense volunteers and for the solidarity of people like you around the world who made much of their work possible.
You can check out our previous campaign here:
https://fundahope.com/en/campaigns/equip-lebanons-first-responders
$53,775 raised Of $50,000
