The Beirut Port explosion has caused much destruction in the areas surrounding the port, and disrupted many lives, notably those of persons with disabilities. Against this backdrop, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are launching a joint campaign, appealing to all concerned parties to comply with the basic standards for the inclusion of persons with disabilities, standards that have been elusive under the dire economic crisis facing Lebanon.

The campaign will be led by Dr. Rola Dashti, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCWA and Ms. Celine Moyroud, Resident Representative of UNDP in Lebanon, drawing on the engagement of Mr. Michael Haddad, UNDP’s regional Goodwill Ambassador for climate action, who has been paralyzed since the age of 6. It will be conducted in partnership with representatives from the development community, international organizations, civil society, the Lebanese Engineers Syndicate, the private sector and many volunteers.

The campaign, which aims at building better a more inclusive Beirut, will begin with a walking tour by Mr. Haddad, starting at the United Nations House, through the affected areas in Down Town, Gemmayzeh and Mar Mikhael, towards the Karantina Primary Health Care Center, one of many primary health care centers that were severely hit by the Beirut Port explosion.