- Schneider to provide equipment and assistance for homes, schools and families affected by the Beirut port explosion
- Tomorrow Rising Fund to help communities in Lebanon recover from the devastating blast
- Schneider Electric’s teams are already working to get Beirut port up and running
Beirut, Lebanon, August 17, 2020: Schneider Electric has joined efforts to accelerate reconstruction of Beirut as well as support families affected by the explosion at the city’s port. The day after the explosion, the company’s engineers were repairing and continue to restore power across Beirut. The company’s technicians are also working to energize the cranes at Beirut’s port and test the power lines that provide the port area with electricity. Schneider Electric’s employees worldwide are cooperating with several non-governmental and civil society organizations in Lebanon through the Schneider Electric Foundation’s Tomorrow Rising Fund to give help to those affected.
Schneider Electric is also partnering with external stakeholders and NGOs including Beit El Baraka and Adventure of Charity to contribute towards the repair and restoration of hundreds of homes that were severely damaged as a result of the explosion.
Through a collaboration with IECD-Semeurs D’avenir, the company is also contributing to the repair of damaged schools and technical institutes which were impacted by the explosion. Schneider Electric is providing clean, renewable energy sources and electrical equipment for these schools and institutes. This initiative will help get the schools and institutes up and running in time for the new academic year.
In addition, Schneider Electric is shipping 1,000 Mobiya solar-powered portable LED lamps with inbuilt mobile chargers to be distributed among affected families who have become homeless after the Beirut port explosion, in cooperation with SOS Attitude, Arc En Ciel and Electricians Without Borders. The lamps are already being distributed to families who have no access to electricity.
“Schneider’s technical expertise and financial support will ensure that we help people here recover faster, especially when it comes to getting their electricity back online,” said John Diksa, President, SOS Attitude. “Winter is coming, as is the start of school, and we need businesses to provide as much assistance as they possibly can now. Schneider Electric is an example of a business putting people first.”
The Tomorrow Rising Fund, which was launched in April 2020 by the Schneider Electric Foundation, supports emergency and longer-term reconstruction related to COVID-19 in all the countries where Schneider Electric operates, including Lebanon. Part of this fund will be allocated to assist Beirut and its people with reconstruction.
“Lebanon is not alone. Our employees, partners and business ecosystems across the Middle East and the entire world are responding with a set of targeted actions to support the people of Lebanon,” said Caspar Herzberg, Middle East and Africa President, Schneider Electric. “We owe the country and its people all the help we can give.”
“In the wake of the Beirut explosion, we’ve mobilized employees and partners in volunteer operations and activities and accelerated our contribution to the reconstruction operations,” said Marc Charabati, General Manager for Schneider Electric East Mediterranean. “This isn’t a short-term crisis. The business community must step up to support Beirut and its people for the long-term. Beyond our initial response, we will continue to coordinate efforts with private institutions and civil society organizations to help communities dealing with the consequences of this tragedy. We stand in solidarity with the Lebanese people and we are going to work night and day to help Beirut’s people recover.”
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Schneider Electric is leading the Digital Transformation of Energy Management and Automation in Homes, Buildings, Data Centers, Infrastructure and Industries. With global presence in over 100 countries, Schneider is the indisputable leader in Power Management – Medium Voltage, Low Voltage and Secure Power, and in Automation Systems. We provide integrated efficiency solutions, combining energy, automation and software. In our global Ecosystem, we collaborate with the largest Partner, Integrator and Developer Community on our Open Platform to deliver real-time control and operational efficiency. We believe that great people and partners make Schneider a great company and that our commitment to Innovation, Diversity and Sustainability ensures that Life Is On everywhere, for everyone and at every moment.