UNESCO Renovates 280 Educational Institutions Damaged by Beirut Port Blasts

UNESCO has renovated 280 educational institutions damaged by the Beirut port blasts.

In a statement released on Tuesday, UNESCO announced the completion of its project to rehabilitate the 280 educational institutions damaged by the blasts that hit the port of Beirut on 4 August 2020, in a record time of 18 months.

The two blasts devastated the swathes of the city on 4 August 2020, destroying or damaging 80% of Beirut’s city center infrastructure, including 280 educational institutions.

The explosions physically shook the whole country of Lebanon. They keep at least 85,000 students out of school. Just after this tragedy, Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, went to Beirut to launch the ambitious international initiative Li Beirut (‘For Beirut’ in Arabic) to support the Lebanese population and the recovery of the city.

In response to this humanitarian crisis, UNESCO and its partners immediately appealed to donors who have responded to this call, providing USD$35 million, which is the total cost of the needs.