Supporting Beirut: A Letter from Daniella Maamari SMArchS '20

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Dear MIT Community:

As you probably know, the capital of Lebanon, Beirut, endured a tragic explosion at the seaport affecting 300,000 people and resulting in damages between $3 to 5 Billion. While we mourn the loss of lives and the devastation spread all over the city, we recognize that actions are needed on a humanitarian level. We call upon the MIT community to join us in supporting our beloved Beirut.

Below is a list of some local NGO initiatives we encourage you to support! The first link directs you to the fundraiser of the Lebanese Club at MIT and the MIT Arab Alumni Association. The money collected in this campaign will directly go to the U.S. registered 501(c)3 non-profit and non-political organization Social and Economic Action for Lebanon (SEAL) based in New York. Please consider donating to any of these wonderful initiatives. They all need our help. No contribution is too small!

MIT LCM and AAA fundraiser: https://www.gofundme.com/f/mit-beirut-disaster-relief/share

SEAL: https://www.seal-usa.org/BeirutEmergencyFund

Arab Fund for Arts and Culture:  https://www.givingloop.org/afac  

Mophradat Beirut Art Fund: http://mophradat.org/beirut-art-fund/

ArtRelief4Beirut: https://www.instagram.com/artrelief4beirut/  

Rebuild Beirut: https://livelove.org/rebuild_beirut

Baytna Baytak: https://www.baytnabaytak.com/home

Impact Lebanon:  https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/lebanon-relief  

Lebanese Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org.lb/index.aspx?pageid=907    

OffreJoie:  https://offrejoie.org/

Qudurathttp://www.qudurat.org/beta/index.php/welcome/about_qudurat 

Arcenciel:  https://www.arcenciel.org/donate/ 

Beit El Baraka:  https://www.beitelbaraka.org/  

Nusanedhttps://www.nusaned.org/en  

Lebanese Food Bank: https://lebanesefoodbank.org/  

Lebanon Needs: https://www.lebanonneeds.org/donate  

Ruwwad: http://www.ruwwad.ngo/  

Embrace Lifelinehttps://embracelebanon.org/embrace-lifeline/  

On behalf of the Lebanese diaspora and community at MIT, we thank you for your support and your solidarity.

Stay safe,

Daniella Maamari
MIT School of Architecture and Planning
Master of Science in Architecture Studies ‘20