Here's how you can help victims and survivors of the Brussels terror attacks
Brussels, the capital city of Belgium, is currently reeling from a devastating terror attack on Brussels Airport and a local metro station during early-morning rush hour on Tuesday. At least 31 people are reported dead, with upwards of 135 people injured.
Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said the country's terrorism alert had been raised to the highest level, with restrictions placed at the borders and on public transportation.
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"In this tragic moment, this dark moment for our country, I will call on everyone to show calm and solidarity," Michel said. "This is a difficult challenge."
"In this tragic moment, this dark moment for our country, I will call on everyone to show calm and solidarity."
In the immediate aftermath of the attacks, one of the most pressing challenges is how to support survivors of the chaos. On social media, users have been showing their solidarity with the hashtag #JeSuisBruxelles. But there are also more tangible ways to have a direct impact.
Even those outside Belgium’s borders can help those dealing directly with the frightening situation. From supporting organizations that are providing relief on the ground to checking in with friends and family to see if they are safe, here are a few ways you can make a difference.
This post will be updated as more options become available.
1. Donate to organizations making an impact.
Some organizations have already announced emergency relief efforts in the immediate area of the attacks. A few are listed below, with details of the relief they are providing and donation information.
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Teams from La Croix-Rouge de Belgique, the Belgian branch of the Red Cross, have mobilized to bring relief to those injured in the attacks.
About 60 emergency vehicles have been dispatched with more than 100 rescuers on the ground. The organization has also set up a reception center to accommodate people in shock, and has psychological relief teams available by phone. Details of all their efforts are being periodically updated.
You can donate directly to Belgian Red Cross efforts here (French) or here (English/International).
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The Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace manages a Survivor's Assistance Network to provide support in the immediate aftermath of a terror attack. The organization has consultants available by phone and email, and has also issued advice to the public of best practical and emotional practices in the direct aftermath of an attack.
Information on how to connect with a consultant is available. Donate to the organization to help support its efforts.
Popular crowdfunding site GoFundMe started a campaign to raise $100,000 for the families of victims in the immediate aftermath of the Brussels attacks. To kick off the page, GoFundMe contributed $25,000 and noted that they will be donating all processing fees from individual donations.
The page, according to GoFundMe, serves as a place for people to contribute while an official charity is being established. Once a charity has been established, the crowdfunding site will donate all the funds raised to that charity.
“One of the challenges we are trying to address is that in the immediate aftermath of a tragedy there is an outpouring of online support for the victims, but no charity has yet been established to capture that support,” GoFundMe tells Mashable.
If one central charity is not created for victims, GoFundMe will consider dividing the funds among several different charities. A spokesperson tells Mashable that all decisions on what to do with the funds will be shared with the GoFundMe community.
2. If you’re local, donate blood where it is safe.
The Belgian Red Cross specifies that there is currently no urgent need for blood to adequately handle the medical needs of those injured in the attacks. The organization has so far been able to meet the needs of hospitals in the area.
The organization, however, does recommend that type O negative donors (the universal blood type) and type A negative donors (a rare blood type of which supplies are often low) visit the closest collection site in Wallonia, Belgium, to donate when they feel safe enough to do so. The organization recommends that donors wait a few days.
For a Wallonia location or to monitor if needs shift, visit La Croix-Rouge de Belgique.
3. Check in with family and friends.
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Facebook has enabled its Safety Check feature for users within the region. The feature enables those within and around Brussels to notify their friends list that they are safe in the aftermath of the attacks.
Facebook’s Safety Check also allows users to monitor their own friends list to ensure none of their loved ones or friends are in the immediate area -- or to mark friends and loved ones as safe if they’ve been in touch.
The Red Cross has a similar safety feature for Dutch and English speakers available on its website. Users simply fill out a form with basic identifying information. They are then registered in a Red Cross Database, which is easily searchable by family and friends.
4. Provide immediate shelter and safety for those displaced.
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With public transportation at a standstill, many survivors of the attacks and people who were in the city for their workday are stranded without a way to get home.
But locals are stepping in to help in an admirable show of solidarity, opening up their homes to people who need shelter in the coming hours and days via social media.
Locals are using the hashtags #ikwilhelpen ("I want to help" in Dutch), #PorteOuverte, #BrusselsWelcome and #OpenHouse on social media to help provide immediate housing to those impacted by the attacks. #PorteOuverte, which translates to "open door," was previously used in the aftermath of the Nov. 13 Paris terror attacks in a similar display of solidarity.
Since mass transit has been largely been shut down in the city, people are also using the tag #jeveuxaider ("I want to help") to organize carpool rides to get home safely.
Additional reporting by Matt Petronzio.
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Topics Social Good
Katie Dupere was a Social Good reporter at Mashable from May 2015 to July 2017, covering activism, identities and social impact. Prior to her work with Mashable, Katie penned pieces about queerness, body positivity, sex and relationships for Gurl. She also previously contributed LGBTQ news coverage to PinkNews.
