Q&A: How SARAID is helping to bring structural stability to Beirut

The blast, which took place in the city’s port area, was caused by the explosion of nearly 3000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate which had been stored in the vicinity for several years.

According to OCHA, the UN’s humanitarian affairs office, nearly 180 people were killed and over 6,000 injured in the blast, which destroyed most of Beirut’s port and surrounding neighbourhoods, rendering thousands homeless. The explosion damaged six hospitals, 20 health clinics and 120 schools.

Engineering a response to Nepalese earthquakes

The international response was swift with numerous organisations including the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement mobilising rapidly to provide assistance to the citizens of Beirut. Among them were members of SARAID (Search and Rescue Assistance In Disasters), a volunteer force that heeded the call of Lebanese local authorities and sent two teams to the stricken city.

After arriving in Beirut on August 6, SARAID set to work with local engineering teams and international Urban Search And Rescue (USAR) teams to assess the impact of the damage and help local engineers make the decision as to whether buildings are safe for occupation or not. They were backed up by a remote team of experts working from  the UK.