Caring For Beirut Explosion Victims

May Lee Melki moved to the United States from Lebanon just one week before the explosion in Beirut. She watched in horror as a city she has a heart for was devastated by this unforeseen crisis. May Lee’s family founded Heart for Lebanon in 2006. This organization was created to “move people from despair to hope and has always responded in times of crisis,” May Lee said. Operation Blessing is partnering with Heart For Lebanon to bring hope to families affected by this tragedy.

Now the organization is focusing on disaster relief for churches and places of worship in the epicenter of the explosion. Volunteers are clearing debris and fixing up these buildings to serve as shelters for those who have been displaced.

Hear May Lee discuss how Heart for Lebanon is caring for the Beirut community during their desperate time of need. Please keep the victims of the Beirut explosion in your prayers, and consider giving a special gift to help disaster victims today!

You Are Reaching Out to Beirut Explosion Victims

LEBANON – On Tuesday a seemingly normal day suddenly turned to tragedy. First smoke filled the sky in the port area of Beirut. As people began to take notice, an earth-shattering explosion erupted, producing a giant mushroom cloud.

People in neighboring nations could hear the intense blast, and it could be felt throughout much of Lebanon. As the dust settles, at least 157 people were killed and 5,000 injured. Officials estimate that approximately 300,000 residents are without homes as a result.

The source of the blast turned out to be 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate stored at the port without proper safety measures, and for now, seems to be accidental in nature.

Nonetheless, the explosion has traumatized a nation that was already teetering on the brink of financial collapse. And the port through which most of their imported food entered the country has been decimated.

The people of Lebanon desperately need our help. Thankfully, because of your faithful support, Operation Blessing quickly reached out to a partner organization that works in the nation of Lebanon to help those suffering after the Beirut explosion. We will be sending much-needed assistance to victims. Follow this story for upcoming details.

Please keep the victims of the Beirut explosion in your prayers, and consider giving a special gift to help disaster victims today!

Blessing Neighbors in the Wake of Isaias

VIRGINIA – You never really know when disaster might strike. Although Hurricane Isaias quickly faded to Tropical Storm Isaias, it still wreaked havoc as it raced up the East Coast. Spawning tornadoes, dangerous wind gusts, and flashfloods, it left at least 6 people dead between North Carolina and Delaware.

Isaias was the first storm to cause damage along the U.S. East Coast this hurricane season. One of the powerful tornadoes touched down right in OB’s backyard in Suffolk, VA, striking the downtown and Riverview areas. Thankfully, no one was significantly injured by this tornado.

Thanks to you, Operation Blessing stays prepared for this type of natural disaster. Each year, we stock our warehouses before hurricane seasons starts. When tropical disturbances hit anywhere along the East Coast or Gulf Coast, you make sure we can quickly respond with disaster relief for reeling victims.

Isaias home damage

Standing Strong with Victims of Isaias Tornado in Suffolk

Because of your compassion, we were able to go straight into action the same morning the tornado hit. Operation Blessing workers packed a truck with water and disaster relief kits—from our generous partner The Home Depot Foundation—for the hurting people of Suffolk.

And we thank you for being there for victims of disasters in their darkest times!

Update 8/7

With your support, Operation Blessing is also reaching with disaster relief supplies to Franklin, VA, Windsor, NC, and Philadelphia, PA. And we’re continuing to assess other areas that need might assistance.

Are You Prepared For Disaster?

“How could we have prepared for this?” Operation Blessing’s Disaster Relief team hears these words all too often after a disaster destroys a family home. Nobody knows when disaster will strike, so it’s important to be prepared with a disaster emergency kit. Does your family know what do to in case of disaster? How prepared are you? These fun questions are designed to spark a family conversation about your specific preparation plan. Here are some suggested talking points.

  • When will you stay? When is it time to leave? Decide as a family when you will evacuate during a storm. Make sure everyone is on the same page. It’s also a good idea to decide on a meeting place before you evacuate so nobody gets left behind!
  • Evacuation route? Where will you take shelter during an evacuation? Plan out the best route to get there and have options in case roads are blocked.
  • Contact information? Who will know where you are located in case of evacuation? Give a few different people your plan. Write down important phone numbers and make sure everyone has a hard copy, in case phone batteries run out.

Emergency Kit

Making an emergency kit can be a fun family activity. Grab some plastic storage containers and fill them with basic emergency items. When you’re done, seal the bins with duct tape and store them in a central location like the garage. Here are some general guidelines for packing an emergency kit.

  • Food & Water Pack shelf-stable foods like canned soup, dried fruit, and crackers. Make sure to include one gallon of water per person, per day. And don’t forget the pet food! It is recommended to pack at least 3 days’ worth of food and water for your family.
  • Essential Supplies Pack supplies in your kit. These include things like a flashlight with extra bulbs and batteries, a can opener, hygiene supplies, a change of clothes, diapers, a map, and more.
  • Important Documents Make photocopies of any and all identifying information for everyone in your family. School transcripts and medication lists should be included, as well as insurance information and contact phone numbers.

Remember, Operation Blessing is here for you. Our disaster relief teams are ready to spring into action whenever disaster strikes. Visit ob.org/prep to learn more. You can also download our FREE Prepared Families Disaster Preparation Guide here!

Fighting the COVID-19 Crisis In Myanmar

Ko and Thida are hardworking parents living in Myanmar during COVID-19. When COVID-19 hit their country, the government ordered a shelter-in-place mandate, severely impacting their lives. Ko worked at a dam on a river near their home. The family would also chop and sell firewood to subsidize their income. But with the coronavirus spreading through Myanmar, Ko lost his job and people stopped showing up to buy wood.

Food Scarcity In Myanmar During COVID-19

Food scarcity in Myanmar during COVID-19 began to impact people like Ko and Thida. They grew desperate. They began to ration out their soap supply just to get by. In the midst of a pandemic when cleanliness is most important, washing their hands became a rare luxury.

But thanks to you, hope was just around the corner! Operation Blessing teams traveled directly to Ko and Thida’s home, delivering a package full of beans, rice, oil, shampoo, and soap. Their children can now wash their hands often, while Thida prepares meals to satisfy her family. Thank you for your heart to see families cared for in these trying times.

From the Field

You Blessed A Hungry Widow Through COVID-19

UNITED STATES – Stacie is no stranger to hard times. When COVID-19 social isolation hit the United States, Stacie made the hard choice. She decided to stay sheltered at home to protect her health. But she was not shaken. As a widow, Stacie has already endured extreme hardship, losing both her husband and son several years ago. Now Stacie faced the daunting reality of social distancing due to COVID-19. That, with the burden of having lost a husband and son, was a lot to bear. The emotional strain was compounded by the new challenge of dealing with COVID-19 social isolation. Even as the coronavirus pandemic spread through the United States, her faith kept her grounded.

The Challenge Of COVID-19 Social Isolation As A Widow

Being alone as a widow during COVID-19, Stacie did not often venture out of her home, making it difficult to access food. But thanks to YOU, and an Operation Blessing partner, Outreach for Christ, Stacie received food in her desperate time of need! Volunteers traveled to her home, delivering packages full of nourishing food items to sustain her while she shelters-in-place. Thank you for your heart to care for men and women all over the country struggling at this time with the burden of social isolation.

Hibernating and Hungry During COVID-19

When the coronavirus hit the United States, it turned Sandra’s life upside down. She suffers from many health conditions that put her at high-risk for contracting the COVID-19 virus. These conditions, combined with her age, forced Sandra to make the decision to shelter in place. Weeks turned into months and Sandra became desperate for supplies. But the risk was too great to venture out to buy them herself.

But thanks to you, Operation Blessing partner Outreach for Christ received the exact resources Sandra needed during the COVID-19 crisis! Volunteers were able to deliver food and paper products directly to her door. Staff wore masks and gloves to protect themselves and Sandra, blessing her with supplies while also safeguarding her health. Thank you for your heart to see Sandra cared for in this desperate time.

A Hospital of Hope

Solar Panels And Their Impact On Burundi Medical Care

BURUNDI – In the East African nation of Burundi, quality medical care can be hard to come by. But you made a big difference through your support of Operation Blessing partner, Kibuye Hope Hospital.

In the past, frequent power outages resulted in tragic outcomes, despite the best efforts of the staff. Incubators, oxygen machines and other life-saving equipment would simply shut down. Surgeries and medical care in Burundi would become much more dangerous without proper lighting and anesthesia. And precious blood supplies would spoil. 

Then you sent a state of the art solar power system to keep a steady stream of electricity flowing to those in need. You’ve offered life and hope to so many children and other patients since .

Feeding Program And Burundi Nutrition

You also supported a feeding program through Kibuye Hope Hospital. Too many children in their area suffered from malnutrition. But over 200 kids began receiving a high protein bowl of hot cereal twice a week, and the parents got extra to take home. When one mother first brought her baby to the program, the child was sick and underweight. Soon after, her baby began to thrive, and she’s so grateful for your help and improved nutrition!

Burundi Medical care

Life-Changing Surgeries In Burundi

Finally, through this hospital you provided life-changing surgeries for those in desperate need. When young Willy fell off a bike and broke his leg, you offered him with the surgery he needed for a speedy recovery. Whether cataracts, cleft lips, or other treatable issues, you made it possible for vulnerable individuals to get the surgeries they needed. 

Thank you again for being a source of hope to the precious people of Burundi by helping this hospital live up to its name. 

“The Hunger is Going to Kill Us”

PUNO, PERU – “They are saying the pandemic itself will not kill us, but hunger will.” These words echo the thoughts of hundreds of men and women across Peru. The shutdowns due to COVID-19 have wreaked havoc on the livelihoods of Peruvian families. 33-year-old Judit is a single mother. She worked as a cook’s assistant, but because of COVID-19, she was laid off indefinitely. Without a job, Judit was desperate to keep food on the table for her 5 children. Often, the family had to survive on nothing but boiled potatoes. For such lively children as Judit’s, this was not nearly enough sustenance. How were they to continue living their daily lives? How were they to summon the energy to play soccer, or even to finish their homework for the day? Judit despaired, and prepared to beg for scraps before she let her children go hungry.

Thank God it didn’t come to that, because YOU refused to let hunger win. Your generosity gave Operation Blessing staff in Peru the opportunity to create food packages for hundreds of families. These packages contained bag after bag of rice, along with other food items. These live-saving gifts have sustained Judit and her precious children. With a voice full of emotion, Judit told us how grateful she was for the food. This is all thanks to you and your faithful support during this global pandemic. Thank you for your heart to help the hurting.

You Fed Gladys As She Fought COVID-19

PERU – Gladys works hard while also raising her four children. A few months ago, she began to experience symptoms suspiciously similar to the COVID-19 virus. When she heard on the radio how hard the coronavirus had hit Peru, she began to suspect she’d contracted the illness at a local market. Since she was unable to work, Gladys’s resources ran low. She struggled to feed her children or purchase medicine.

But thanks to you, Operation Blessing met Gladys in her desperate hour! OB Peru travelled throughout Gladys’s community, delivering food bags and cleaning supplies to slow the spread of the virus. Gladys can now put food on the table for her family. Thank you for your heart to see men, women, and children cared for during the COVID-19 crisis.