We are fundraising to equip Lebanon’s national first responders - The Civil Defense (الدفاع المدني) with essential and life-saving supplies.

For a year now, Israel has steadily intensified its air strikes and bombardment of communities in South Lebanon, the Bekaa, and Beirut. We are living through yet another war. Entire families are being killed and children are being left under the rubble for hours.

Lebanon’s national first responders are relentless in their commitment to saving lives and attending to the wounded in the aftermath of these attacks. A huge number of them are volunteers.

Amidst this war, Lebanon is still crippled by a long-term economic crisis - which means that our first responders have been left with minimal resources: they are missing personal protective equipment, fuel, medical supplies and they can't afford to maintain their most essential rescue equipment. Decades of chronic underfunding by the government means that the Civil Defense’s vehicles and centers are worn out, and - in the worst scenarios place our first responders at risk while they work to save lives

**What will this campaign do?**

Your donations will be used to purchase equipment and meet the urgent needs of 3 civil defense units: the Civil Defence Units of Bachoura & Ras Beirut (Beirut) and the Civil Defense Unit of Sour (Tyre).

One of the critical needs of the Civil Defense Unit in Tyre is a a 4x4 car to be able to reach people buried under the rubble.

Our last campaign (https://fundahope.com/en/campaigns/support-the-lebanese-civil-defense) allowed us to:
- Purchase two fire fighting suits and five masks with filters for a station in Hasbaya, which is a major town southeast of the country.

- Support a civil defense unit in central Beirut to refurbish a “donated” ambulance. We added a first aid kit, a board, a scoop (which is the carrier that rolls down and up into the ambulance), a chair, and an inflatable “mattress” that they use to inflate for the wounded with fractures (The inflatable mattress helps keep the wounded in place on their way to the ER)

**Why the urgency?**

The war we are bearing witness to (from Palestine to Lebanon) has taken an unprecedented toll on civilians: As of September 2024, more than 800 have been killed, thousands have been left injured, and hundreds of thousands are being displaced from their homes.

Israel is destroying our communities, and the occupation forces are ensuring their destruction has long-lasting effects: deliberately using white phosphorus bombs to destroy orchards, natural habitats, and olive groves. More than 630 hectares of agricultural land and natural habitats have been burned to date.

Despite the continued challenges, the Civil Defense are committed to doing all they can to respond to the crises impacting our communities on a daily basis.

By supporting the Civil Defense, you’re ensuring that their ambulances and fire trucks can rush to the scenes of emergencies and attacks.

**What does the civil defense do?**

When the worst calamities have hit Lebanon, there are a few heroes we can always rely on. The Lebanese Civil Defense are among those heroes. Right after the Beirut Port Blast of August 4, 2020, they were among the first responders on the scene risking their lives, in spite of the blast’s magnitude and its aftermath. Their work continues daily.

At the time of writing (September 24), the General Directorate of Civil Defense reported that its various stations had carried out more than 98 rescue and relief missions in the past 24 hours alone:

- 70 Fire Extinguishing
- 8 rescue missions
- 24 First Aid

These types of missions are a standard part of the Civil Defense’s daily work. It is common for first responders to spend several days in a row on a mission away from their homes and families. And it often happens with working with minimal resources and support.

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 generosity (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. WISH Money transfers are also an option. You can send your WHISH Money transfers to:
+ Rami Rajeh (03428066),
+ Bana Bashour (03059327), or
+ Yusra Bitar (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 many first responders and firefighters will you equip?

Our initial aim is to purchase essential equipment for at least three centers distributed across Lebanon, which will equip more than 100 Civil Defense volunteers with the appropriate gear and supplies.

**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.