On August 4 2020 Beirut’s port was rocked by a massive explosion killing nearly 200 people, injuring about 600,000, leaving 300,000 homeless and thousands are still missing. The number of deaths is expected to increase as search and rescue efforts are still ongoing. The explosion came at a very difficult time for Lebanon as the country is already facing a devastating economic crisis that was exacerbated by the Corona pandemic.

The explosion has further worsened the situation for the vulnerable segments of the Lebanese society, in particular, migrant workers and refugees. Undoubtedly, refugees and migrant communities are particularly vulnerable right now, as many of them already living below the poverty line. Many have already lost their jobs or faced salary reduction due to the economic crisis and currency meltdown. In addition, many migrant workers live in blast-destroyed areas and now have become homeless.

“After the blast, these refugees go back to being refugees with all the vulnerabilities that come with that. They will be the first one to find themselves in the street. The same goes for migrant workers as well.” – Elena Dikomitis, Norwegian Refugee Council

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has launched an appeal to raise $10.3 million to help 43,000 migrant workers and refugees who have been affected by the blast. 8% of the 300,000 affected by the explosion are migrant workers from Ethiopia, Bangladesh and the Philippines, according to IOM. At least 150 of them have been injured and 15 died in the explosion. Many Bangladeshi migrant workers have appealed for urgent repatriation, reports the Daily New Nation.

“her agency hopes to use some of the appeal money to start returning migrants to their home countries through its voluntary return program”. – Angela Wells, IOM spokeswoman

The United Nations Refugees Agency said that at least 34 Syrian working at Beirut’s port have died in the explosion. The Syrian embassy in Beirut put the Syrians toll at 43. However, it has been reported that Syrian families affected by the blast have been facing increasing discrimination in accessing aid.