Just like the whole world, The Netherlands was moved by the explosion that took the lives and homes of too many people in Lebanon. A few days after the explosion, it deployed a search and rescue team to assist on the ground.
But the help from The Netherlands hasn’t stopped at that. Its people also stepped up to support.
A group of 11 Dutch non-profit organizations, operating under Giro555, jumped in to raise donations for the affected Lebanese families.
Giro555 couldn’t stand idle at the catastrophe that wrecked Beirut, devastated its hospitals, killed many, and propelled 300,000 people into homelessness.
Giro555 turned at once its website into a donation platform, where Dutch people can contribute to help. Amazingly, in only 3 days, over 5 Million Euros were deposited into the fundraiser.
However, this humanitarian group of NGOs did not stop there. They proceeded to launch a wider campaign at the national level to collect more funds: Together In Action For Beirut.
On August 14th, Together In Action For Beirut launched with a Livestream event on Giro555’s Facebook and YouTube Channel, kickstarting with some renowned Lebanese music by Fairouz and Dutch artists.
The Livestream ran for 3 full hours and hosted people with Lebanese ties and Minister Sigrid Kaag of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation to enlighten viewers on the situation in Beirut.
All through, the host chatted directly with the phone operators who were keeping tabs on the incoming donations.
Giro555 did even something more to empower their live fundraising for Beirut while it was ongoing.
They sent around the city a yellow school bus with people on board to directly interact with the citizens in the streets and share with them stories of Beirut’s victims, which encouraged countless of more donations.
And so it was that, in less than 14 hours, the amazing Dutch people contributed 11.5 Million Euros for the victims of Beirut!
Giro555 will allocate these donations to help feed and provide shelters to those severely impacted.
