Etihad reaches out to Beirut victims

Etihad employees have helped to pack aid for Beirut raised by residents of the United Arab Emirates.

Etihad Airways has reached out to support victims of the Beirut explosion which tore the Lebanese capital apart earlier this month.

Etihad, along with Emirates Red Crescent (ERC), a volunteer humanitarian organisation that supports official authorities, have launched a number of initiatives to help Lebanon following the explosion.

At least 190 people were killed when a large quantity of ammonium nitrate stored at the port of Beirut exploded on August 4. The accident is estimated to have caused 6,500 injuries and left 300,000 people homeless.

The Abu Dhabi-based carrier organised aid to support residents who had been injured or lost their home and gathered donations including medical equipment, clothes, amenity bags, masks, shoes and blankets. Etihad and ERC have also supplied tents to provide emergency shelter and five medical tents to act as an on-field clinic.

Etihad also launched ‘To Beirut’, a drive to collect dried food items such as rice, sugar, tea, instant coffee, flour, pasta and dried milk.

“Our main focus of this campaign is to alleviate suffering for the people in Beirut,” said Dr Nadia Bastaki, vice president Medical Services, Etihad Aviation Group. “I’m extremely proud that as part of our corporate social responsibility efforts, more than 50 of our own executives, pilots, cabin crew and ground staff volunteered to pack and organise the aid that has been collected in the United Arab Emirates.”

The airline is now encouraging members of its Etihad Guest loyalty programme to donate miles to support victims of the explosion. The miles will be used to buy protective equipment such as masks and gloves, as well as medical supplies and medicines, dry food items and support for home renovation. Etihad Guest will also be contributing towards the donations.