Montreal's Lebanese community is rallying to raise funds and support Lebanon after Tueday's massive explosion in Beirut that killed at least 137 people and injured more than 4,000 others.
"Please give and donate to our fundraising. It will help a lot, every dollar counts," said Ayman Faour of the Centre National Libano Canadien which has set up a GoFundMe page. He said the needs are huge.
"It's complete chaos - people have lost their homes, people don't have food. Everybody is working to clean the streets, trying to locate victims, some people are still missing," said Faour who has been trying to keep in touch with friends and family there.
"It's hard. You're always thinking about them, thinking about how they're feeling, how they're struggling, what you can do to help," said Faour in an interview with CJAD 800.
"Far away, you're feeling a bit powerless."
Community organizer Lamia Charlebois told the Andrew Carter Show that donations can be sent to the Lebanese Red Cross and Canadian Red Cross.
"I'm hearing the same words come back - it's apocalyptic," said Charlebois whose mother is in Beirut.
"Hospitals are stretched to the limit as any hospital in the world is right now with COVID - resources are weakened, resources are stretched to the limit because of the economic and political crisis."
Charlebois said the shows of solidarity and strength are heartening.
"What's happening right now on the ground - I'm extremely proud of my compatriots. I have a niece who's with a broom and gloves and a mask cleaning up the streets. Everyone is helping everyone. Strangers are opening their houses because some people lost their homes completely," said Charlebois.
"Now it's time to be there for each other, to send money to the right place, in the hands of the organization who are doing the job, the real job, definitely not the government. Then it will be time to rebuild. And Lebanon has proven time and time again that we have the time and capability of rebuilding and we will."