Saint George Hospital Trauma unit reopens with Sharjah foundation support after Beirut Port 2020 blast

The Big Heart Foundation Unveils State-of-the-Art Emergency Unit in Beirut, Boosting Healthcare Capacity

The Big Heart Foundation (TBHF), a global humanitarian organization based in Sharjah, UAE, has inaugurated the newly reconstructed and expanded Emergency and Trauma Unit at the Saint George Hospital University Medical Centre (SGHUMC) in Beirut.

The project, funded by a $2.36 million (Dh8.7 million) contribution from TBHF’s "Salam Beirut" campaign, has revitalized critical facilities at SGHUMC, Lebanon’s oldest and most revered medical institutions. The hospital was severely damaged in the catastrophic 2020 Beirut Port explosion. The inauguration signifies an important step in restoring critical healthcare access for thousands, and underscores the power of international solidarity in crisis response.

The newly inaugurated unit is equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment, boasts expanded capacity, and features enhanced trauma care facilities, including a new pediatric section. This vital upgrade enables SGHUMC to operate at full capacity for the first time since the explosion. The facility is expected to serve over 40,000 patients annually, significantly strengthening Beirut’s healthcare capabilities and ensuring access to crucial medical services.

The 2020 Beirut Port explosion claimed over 150 lives, injured thousands, and displaced nearly 300,000 residents. SGHUMC, a 147-year-old cornerstone of Lebanon's healthcare system sustaine extensive structural and operational losses.

In response to this immense tragedy, and under the compassionate leadership of Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of the Ruler of Sharjah, Chairperson of TBHF, and UNHCR’s first Eminent Advocate for Refugee Children, TBHF launched the "Salam Beirut" campaign. The campaign successfully raised over Dh30 million to aid recovery efforts, with the reconstruction of SGHUMC’s Emergency and Trauma (ERT) Centre being one of its most significant achievements.

At the inauguration ceremony, Alya Al Musaiebi, Director of TBHF, reaffirmed Sharjah’s long-term friendship with Lebanon, praising the strength of its people. “This initiative carries a message of love and solidarity from Sharjah, under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and our Chairperson, Sheikha Jawaher, to the people of Lebanon who have always faced adversity with resilience and pride”, she noted.

TBHF Director continued: “The reconstructed and expanded ERT Centre at SGHUMC symbolizes our belief that humanitarian work must be meaningful, long-term, and grounded in the dignity of those we serve. The devastation caused by the Port of Beirut explosion was not just structural—it was deeply human, and our response through 'Salam Beirut' was committed to investing in systems that give people back not just services, but stability and self-worth. Today, we are not simply inaugurating a project; we are standing beside a community and investing in its future.”

Originally announced in December 2020 as part of the "Salam Beirut" campaign, the reconstruction of the Emergency and Trauma Unit faced unforeseen delays. The aftermath of the Beirut Port explosion coincided with the global COVID-19 pandemic, leading to parts of the hospital being repurposed to treat urgent cases. Despite these challenges, SGHUMC remained steadfast in its commitment to the community, establishing a temporary emergency facility that continued to provide life-saving care throughout the reconstruction period.