The August 2020 Beirut Port explosion has caused immense damage, shattering infrastructure as well as the lives and livelihoods of people in the immediate vicinity of the blast and across Beirut. Coming at a time of heightened fragility, the blast has brought to an apex a set of multi-faceted crises which have faced Lebanon for years. 

In the immediate aftermath of the explosion, UNDP supported debris and waste management, emergency livelihoods, shelter, psychosocial counselling, and legal assistance for affected communities, using a mix of cash-for-work emergency employment schemes and food security support for families. In parallel, assessments were conducted to understand the impact of the blast on vulnerable populations and the economic fabric. Putting people at the centre of the recovery effort, UNDP is working towards a just recovery that preserves human dignity and rights, leaving no one behind.