Learning from the Beirut Port Explosion Response – Webinar

The humanitarian response after the Beirut Blast took place in a complex urban setting. Numerous responders from local organizations, ad hoc informal initiatives and international humanitarian organizations worked hard to save lives and help victims. Many of the new ad hoc initiatives remained active, also after international NGOs moved in.

What can we learn from the Beirut Port Explosion response? Was the input and work of local actors recognized and supported adequately by international NGOs and UN Agencies? What role did the various actors play in the ‘first phase’ of the response and how can international NGOs and agencies align with local CSOs, informal networks and initiatives more effectively?

The learnings on collaboration, coordination, and community engagement will contribute to better preparedness of humanitarian actors for humanitarian responses in an urban setting.

During the session local organizations from Beirut will share preliminary learnings, as will representatives of international NGOs.

Introductions:

• Setting the scene – A growing awareness on the specifics of an urban response by Prof. Thea Hilhorst, Erasmus University.
• Preliminary findings of the local actors by the Lebanon Humanitarian and Development NGOs Forum (LDFH) and partners.
• Preliminary findings international NGOs by the Lebanon Humanitarian INGO Forum (LHIF) and partners.

After the introduction a panel with the opening speakers and representatives of local actors, Save the Children International, and the Dutch Relief Alliance will discuss how these learnings could lead to a better preparedness of humanitarian actors in an urban setting.

The working session will be facilitated as a webinar: attendees to the session are invited to participate to the panel discussion via the chat and Q&A-box.