Kfeir Relief Fund
Established June, 2021
Lebanon in Crisis: Your Help Is Needed Now
By Joseph Peck
Lebanon is facing an unparalleled economic and humanitarian crisis, intensified by recent conflict and persistent political gridlock. The World Bank describes Lebanon’s economic collapse since 2019 as one of the worst in over 150 years, with real GDP contracting by over 38% by 2024. The Lebanese pound has lost more than 98% of its value, fueling hyperinflation—food prices soared 350% year-on-year in early 2023. Over 80% of the population lives below the poverty line, with 36% in extreme poverty, surviving on less than $2.15 a day. The minimum wage, now equivalent to $25 a month, falls far short of basic needs, as families spend over five times this amount on food alone, leaving little for fuel, electricity, water, or medicine.
Chronic fuel shortages, driven by depleted foreign reserves, restrict power plants to providing electricity for as little as two hours daily in some areas. Long lines for petrol are widespread, often with no supply available. The education system is crumbling, with schools shuttered due to unaffordable transportation and shortages of supplies like paper. Healthcare is in freefall, with 40% of doctors and 30% of nurses having emigrated, and hospitals operating at half capacity due to shortages of medicine and power.
The 2020 Beirut port explosion, which killed over 220 people and caused billions in damage, remains unresolved, with no justice for those responsible. Escalating hostilities since September 2024 have worsened the crisis. Israeli airstrikes have killed over 3,961 people, including 736 women and 248 children, and damaged or destroyed over 360,000 housing units, displacing hundreds of thousands. The conflict has inflicted $3.4 billion in physical damage and $5.1 billion in economic losses, equivalent to 40% of Lebanon’s GDP.
Politically, Lebanon saw a breakthrough with the election of President Joseph Aoun and the appointment of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam in January 2025, ending a two-year presidential vacuum. Yet, entrenched political elites continue to block essential reforms, such as banking restructuring and debt resolution, stalling recovery. The IMF reports some stabilization in inflation and exchange rates since mid-2023, but without comprehensive reforms, progress remains fragile.
Our focus is not on pinpointing blame but on addressing this urgent crisis. The Kfeirian Reunion has discussed a relief fund for years, with talks dating back to our 76th Reunion in 2008. In April 2021, your Board of Directors established the Kfeir Relief Fund. A family member challenged us to seed the fund with $1,000, promising to match it. The Reunion rose to the challenge, and two other families matched the donation, launching the fund with $4,000. Thanks to your generosity, we have sent $15,000 to support families in Kfeir, and we urgently need your continued support to keep this mission alive.
Over 60% of our families in Kfeir desperately need help. Instead of sending cash, we deliver food boxes to those in need. Each box costs approximately $50 and provides essential nourishment for a family for about one month. A trusted local contact in Kfeir—whose identity we protect for safety—identifies families, purchases supplies, and distributes these boxes. Our Board has established clear guidelines, thoroughly vetted with our contact, to ensure your donations reach their intended recipients. To date, we have delivered nearly 300 boxes of food to families in Kfeir, with plans to assist many more. Our contact provides names and photos to document the impact. One recipient shared: “Thank you for this beautiful gift. May God bless and protect you. Here in Lebanon, especially in Kfeir, we desperately need help from good, honest people. May your hands turn dust into gold.”
We are committed to continuing this vital relief effort, but we cannot do it without your support. Each $50 donation provides a family with a month’s worth of food, offering hope and sustenance in these dire times. Our cousins in Kfeir need us now more than ever. Our ancestors immigrated to escape hardship, securing a better future for us and our children. Today, we can honor their legacy by supporting those suffering in Lebanon. As Matthew 25:35-36 reminds us: “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink…”
Please consider donating to the Kfeir Relief Fund to help us continue this mission. Every contribution brings hope. Donate online HERE or send a check to:
Kfeirian Reunion Treasurer
10609 Smith Point Way
Glen Allen, VA 23060
Your generosity is a lifeline for our families in Kfeir. Thank you for your support.
By Joseph Peck
Lebanon is facing an unparalleled economic and humanitarian crisis, intensified by recent conflict and persistent political gridlock. The World Bank describes Lebanon’s economic collapse since 2019 as one of the worst in over 150 years, with real GDP contracting by over 38% by 2024. The Lebanese pound has lost more than 98% of its value, fueling hyperinflation—food prices soared 350% year-on-year in early 2023. Over 80% of the population lives below the poverty line, with 36% in extreme poverty, surviving on less than $2.15 a day. The minimum wage, now equivalent to $25 a month, falls far short of basic needs, as families spend over five times this amount on food alone, leaving little for fuel, electricity, water, or medicine.
Chronic fuel shortages, driven by depleted foreign reserves, restrict power plants to providing electricity for as little as two hours daily in some areas. Long lines for petrol are widespread, often with no supply available. The education system is crumbling, with schools shuttered due to unaffordable transportation and shortages of supplies like paper. Healthcare is in freefall, with 40% of doctors and 30% of nurses having emigrated, and hospitals operating at half capacity due to shortages of medicine and power.
The 2020 Beirut port explosion, which killed over 220 people and caused billions in damage, remains unresolved, with no justice for those responsible. Escalating hostilities since September 2024 have worsened the crisis. Israeli airstrikes have killed over 3,961 people, including 736 women and 248 children, and damaged or destroyed over 360,000 housing units, displacing hundreds of thousands. The conflict has inflicted $3.4 billion in physical damage and $5.1 billion in economic losses, equivalent to 40% of Lebanon’s GDP.
Politically, Lebanon saw a breakthrough with the election of President Joseph Aoun and the appointment of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam in January 2025, ending a two-year presidential vacuum. Yet, entrenched political elites continue to block essential reforms, such as banking restructuring and debt resolution, stalling recovery. The IMF reports some stabilization in inflation and exchange rates since mid-2023, but without comprehensive reforms, progress remains fragile.
Our focus is not on pinpointing blame but on addressing this urgent crisis. The Kfeirian Reunion has discussed a relief fund for years, with talks dating back to our 76th Reunion in 2008. In April 2021, your Board of Directors established the Kfeir Relief Fund. A family member challenged us to seed the fund with $1,000, promising to match it. The Reunion rose to the challenge, and two other families matched the donation, launching the fund with $4,000. Thanks to your generosity, we have sent $15,000 to support families in Kfeir, and we urgently need your continued support to keep this mission alive.
Over 60% of our families in Kfeir desperately need help. Instead of sending cash, we deliver food boxes to those in need. Each box costs approximately $50 and provides essential nourishment for a family for about one month. A trusted local contact in Kfeir—whose identity we protect for safety—identifies families, purchases supplies, and distributes these boxes. Our Board has established clear guidelines, thoroughly vetted with our contact, to ensure your donations reach their intended recipients. To date, we have delivered nearly 300 boxes of food to families in Kfeir, with plans to assist many more. Our contact provides names and photos to document the impact. One recipient shared: “Thank you for this beautiful gift. May God bless and protect you. Here in Lebanon, especially in Kfeir, we desperately need help from good, honest people. May your hands turn dust into gold.”
We are committed to continuing this vital relief effort, but we cannot do it without your support. Each $50 donation provides a family with a month’s worth of food, offering hope and sustenance in these dire times. Our cousins in Kfeir need us now more than ever. Our ancestors immigrated to escape hardship, securing a better future for us and our children. Today, we can honor their legacy by supporting those suffering in Lebanon. As Matthew 25:35-36 reminds us: “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink…”
Please consider donating to the Kfeir Relief Fund to help us continue this mission. Every contribution brings hope. Donate online HERE or send a check to:
Kfeirian Reunion Treasurer
10609 Smith Point Way
Glen Allen, VA 23060
Your generosity is a lifeline for our families in Kfeir. Thank you for your support.
|
|