To our community in Lebanon,

The RELIEF Centre extends its deepest condolences to the many lives that have been affected by the devastating explosion at Lebanon's Port of Beirut on 4 August 2020.

To our team members, local partners, citizen scientists, friends and families, and to all the individuals of the community who were personally affected - our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Once again, the community that has lifted the streets of Beirut in the past few weeks is exemplary of the true spirit that makes up this country. We are proud of all those contributing by lending a helping hand or a shoulder of emotional support.

On August 14th the RELIEF team met to discuss our next steps collectively and to reengage in a dialogue of what prosperity means given the changing landscape of displacement. We understand that the work we do on sustainable infrastructure, accessible education and inclusive growth and prosperity is now more vital than ever. 

We are exploring ways in which RELIEF's expertise can support Urban Recovery research and interventions. We are building on our previous work to address new issues and existing issues in light of the deteriorating economic situation, the coronavirus pandemic and the explosion at the Port of Beirut. 

Recovery is about more than rebuilding lost and damaged physical spaces. It is also about dealing with the intangible and affective dimensions of this tragedy. To this end, we will be developing mental health as an intrinsic part of prosperity with projects focusing on medium and long-term wellbeing in Lebanon.

The RELIEF centre is at its core a collaborative effort; we recommit to that spirit of partnership as we move forward. We will continue to work closely with our collaborators, local partners and citizen scientists to assess the evolving impact of this tragedy and determine how best we can provide support and assist in their recovery.

The road to reconstruction will be long, but we will be by your side in collaboration with our partners and active groups on the ground.

Stay safe,

The RELIEF Centre