Many initiatives were done in the south of Lebanon, as all associations and social centers have been involved in relief work. Perhaps, the experience of the “NGOs Platform of Saida” deserves to be considered, in 1980, after the Israeli invasion, and through the dispensaries coordination body, some associations working in different fields such as health, social, and education assembled, aiming at integrating, organizing and facilitating relief work.
As one of the social workers said: “The impulsivity is fundamental; however, it is not adequate if it does not coincide with a clear vision and prior planning of each action…”.
This platform began with five associations and now it comprises 60 associations. It managed to overcome party, sectarian, and ideological affiliations. Furthermore, during that period, it was able to abide by the rules of democracy in terms of periodic elections, rotation of management, and frequent meetings of the General Assembly. It had an office in the municipality and an active presence since the early 1990s. It is worth noting that many social workers played an active and pioneering role in this platform through the associations and institutions in which they were working and which were part of that platform.
This platform has contributed to relief work in August 2020 in Beirut since the early hours of the explosion.
Notably, during the war, many platforms and coordination bodies were formed in Bourj Hammoud/ Sin el-Fil/ Nabaa, Tripoli, the Bekaa, and other Lebanese regions that we did not have the opportunity to dig deep into their activities, hoping to approach them in the future.
