The Port of Beirut explosion on 4th August 2020 caused 181 fatalities and 6,000 injuries. At least 300,000 people have also been made homeless. With between $10-15 billion USD in damage done to the city, the process of rebuilding is going to long and expensive.
Both Skywards and Etihad Guest are giving members the opportunity to donate their miles to help Beirut rebuild and recover.
Donate Skywards Miles for Beirut
In the aftermath of the explosions, Emirates SkyCargo established an airbridge between Dubai and Beirut. More than 50 freighter flights have delivered critical supplies of food, medicines and building materials.
For the next three months, donations to the Emirates Airline Foundation will be used to send additional relief shipments of urgent food, medical supplies and other much-needed items. The foundation is the charitable arm of Emirates Airline.
Skywards members are able to donate in increments of 2,500 Skywards Miles up to a maximum of 250,000 Miles.
Donate your Skywards Miles here.
Donate Etihad Guest Miles for Beirut
Donated Etihad Guest Miles, will be used to purchase protective equipment, medical supplies, dry food items and also support home renovation.
Etihad Guest has provided a very helpful guide of how many miles are are needed to provide different types of support.
- 1,666 Guest Miles – Provide protection equipment and hygiene items
- 2,222 Guest Miles – Provide dry food
- 5,555 Guest Miles – Provide medical supplies and medicines
- 16,666 Guest Miles – Support home renovation
Etihad Guest members are also able to donate any number of Guest Miles. There is no minimum donation and there appears to be no maximum either.
Donated Etihad Guest miles will be channelled through the Emirates Red Crescent, the UAE affiliate of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
Donate Etihad Guest Miles here.
Beirut will bounce back
My first flight to Beirut was on an Emirates 777 more than 20 years ago. It was less than a decade after the end of the civil war. However, the energy of the city and the joie de vivre of its citizens was striking. The resilience of Beirutis is an inspiration.
Have no doubt, Beirut will bounce back. Let’s do our part to help make that happen.
Donate Skywards Miles here and donate Etihad Guest Miles here.