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Nestlé Initial Response to Beirut Explosions Addresses Urgent Needs

Nestlé Initial Response to Beirut Explosions Addresses Urgent Needs

After last week’s devastating explosions in the Port of Beirut, with 163 people confirmed killed, 200 still missing, and more than 6,000 injured to date, Nestlé’s initial response is focusing on urgent relief initiatives to help the population in Beirut and its surrounding areas. 

“Our thoughts and hearts are with all the people in Lebanon, and we are moving forward with urgent collaboration with local NGOs to ensure we help support the immediate needs of the population in impacted areas while we work on additional initiatives that will be implemented in upcoming days,” said Dragan Culibrk, ad interim CEO & CFO, Nestlé Middle East & North Africa. “We wish everyone in Lebanon fast healing and hope they will stay strong to rebuild the city for a better future.”

Nestlé’s Lebanon team is supporting families in the most impacted streets of Gemmayze, Karantina, Mar Mikhael, and the port area, providing food and beverages to volunteers in the field and to families who lost their homes, opening its hotline for free water requests, and helping clear glass and metal debris.

Nestlé in Lebanon has provided immediate water support to firefighters, the Red Cross and Red Crescent, the Lebanese Army, hospitals including St. Georges, Geitaoui, Rizk, Hotel Dieu de France, Rafic Hariri, and to various NGOs. Strong partnerships are currently coming together with prominent Lebanese NGOs to provide additional products, water and other needed support.

Nestlé is also partnering with a number of entities to help tackle the rehabilitation of Beirut and surrounding areas, working on the collection of waste for use in the restoration and reforestation of mountains. Rubble is being recycled to produce wooden doors that will be donated to people whose homes were damaged, along with mass scale recycling and upcycling of debris and waste.

In addition, Nestlé is offering impacted employees in Lebanon a financial contribution to help repair their homes and extending emergency loans if needed.

Globally, the company has partnered with the International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to co-fund, one for one, donations from Nestlé employees all over the worldin support of the Lebanese Red Cross’ specific relief initiatives for the population in Beirut and surrounding areas.

About Nestlé in Lebanon

Lebanon was home to Nestlé’s first import operation in the Middle East, established in 1934. Over 85 years later, the company today operates two water factories and employs more than 600 local talents in the country. Nestlé works with more than 300 suppliers in Lebanon and has more than 17,800 customers in the country, including wholesalers, supermarkets, groceries, pharmacies, and foodservices.

Nestlé has also established several collaborations with local governments, NGOs, authorities, and the private sector, with which it aims to Create Shared Value in areas including nutrition education, water conservation, water access, and recycling.