An update from our World Animal Day Ambassador in Beirut
“It has now been two full months since the explosion and updating everyone.
Trying to be positive as an individual, as an organization, and in general.
Reality is that the country continues to decline and with most any measure situation is worse now than at time of explosion.
This article seems an accurate assessment… ‘There is no hope’: the slow disintegration of Lebanon’.
- Shortages now on fuel and medication, and many imported products are getting hard to find.
- Refugees trying to flee by boat to Cyprus.
- So many businesses closing down and people leaving the country.
One of our employees left, and two of our board members left. Puts us in a bit of a difficult spot, but can’t blame anyone for trying to make their situation better.
Our impact so far:
- 2 – hours after explosion that team deployed to help
- 730+ – requests for help we have received from people
- 351 – people volunteered in the search and rescue and care
- 284 – animals given veterinary care
- 127 – animals taken to our shelter
- 86 – rescued animals currently needing adoption
- 123 – lost animals reunited with their guardians
- 6.100 – kilograms of food distributed for affected animals
- 7,200+ – hours spent on the ground in affected area
I am surprised that we are still finding animals that were lost at the time of the explosion.
While I write this, I have Banjo, an orange male, sitting on my lap. We found him 59 days after explosion, and was hiding on the roof of an 18-story building. We only got suspicious that he would be there as we found feathers, so while very skinny he must have been able to hunt a bit to survive.
Have been able to fly out 35 of the rescued animals so far, and another 20 scheduled to go before end of October. All to the US to trusted groups or specific adopters. Need to rehome another 40 animals before we are back to the same level we were before explosion. No local adoptions at all, so many people who fostered or adopted are leaving or no longer able to afford, and other pet owners giving up their animals.
Still another month of two supporting people in the affected area and working to keep pets in homes of people, trying to make sure they do not feel they need to abandon their animal because of economic crisis.
Receive about 15 requests for help per day specifically of pet owners in areas affected by blast who cannot afford the basics for their animals.
5,000 kilos of food and supplies arrived from Cyprus and should hopefully clear customs and be ready for distribution in the next two weeks.
Trying to identify a vet that could come for two to three weeks to support Animals Lebanon, people in affected areas, and spay/neuter at some of the shelters around the country.
Getting time to take a step back and regroup and some strategy and plan. Need to understand and define how we continue to help animals in the best way possible in this new situation.
Thank you for your help during this time.”
Jason Mier
Executive Director, Animals Lebanon