Scottish aid in Lebanon: 'They send us pictures of their empty kitchen shelves'

A Scottish funded aid project is helping hundreds of victims of the chemical explosion in Lebanon to provide food for their families.
Rabaha is a divorced mother of three from Lebanon, who lives with her children in Nabaa, Beirut. She was injured in the blast.Rabaha is a divorced mother of three from Lebanon, who lives with her children in Nabaa, Beirut. She was injured in the blast.
Rabaha is a divorced mother of three from Lebanon, who lives with her children in Nabaa, Beirut. She was injured in the blast.

Association Najdeh, funded through the Scottish Government’s Humanitarian Emergency Fund and Christian Aid’s Lebanon Crisis Appeal has provided emergency cash assistance to 708 vulnerable households directly affected by the explosion, mostly Palestinian and Syrian refugee families who do not receive any support from the Lebanese government.

Aid workers have described how mothers say they are forced to feed their babies watered-down tea, as they cannot afford milk or baby formula.

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Six months ago today, on August 4, a blast at Beirut port in came at a dire time in Lebanon already suffering from displacement, Covid-19 pandemic, government corruption and economic crisis resulting in half the population of the country facing starvation.

Majid Zaarour lives in Beirut.Majid Zaarour lives in Beirut.
Majid Zaarour lives in Beirut.

The explosion and its shockwaves - which happened because a large quantity of ammonium nitrate had been stored in unsafe conditions - killed more than 200 people and injured more than 6,500, flattening or damaging some 74,000 homes across a large area of the city, and damaging scores of schools and hospitals. Before the blast, 52 per cent of the Lebanese population and 83 per cent of the Syrian refugee population were living below the poverty line.

Refugee Majid Zaarour came to Beirut from Syria with his family 10 years ago. His home was damaged in the explosion – the doors and windows of his building blew in, injuring his wife.

He received cash support from Association Najdeh, which allowed him to buy essential food and helped pay his rent. But his children are still traumatised.

He said: “My children aren’t able to forget the sound of the explosion, when they hear any sound or noise around us, immediately they remember what happened… even my little son is now having speech problems.”

Basmeh & Zeitooneh volunteers helping beneficiaries carry the boxes containing food parcels and hygiene kits in a distribution centre in Karentina, Beirut.Basmeh & Zeitooneh volunteers helping beneficiaries carry the boxes containing food parcels and hygiene kits in a distribution centre in Karentina, Beirut.
Basmeh & Zeitooneh volunteers helping beneficiaries carry the boxes containing food parcels and hygiene kits in a distribution centre in Karentina, Beirut.
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Sally Foster-Fulton, head of Christian Aid Scotland, said: “The explosion, which destroyed Beirut’s port including vital grain stores, was devastating for a country already in crisis. Six months on, with the pandemic hitting hard and continued economic hardship and political turmoil, the situation is dire. Life was already difficult for Majid and many families like his; they are now bearing the brunt of Lebanon’s spiralling economic and health crises, as well as struggling with the mental and physical aftermath of the August blast.

“We remain grateful to the Scottish Government and those who have supported our Lebanon emergency appeal. Their support has extended the difference our partners are making to many more families, but there is still extreme need. It requires a long-term response and continued international support, focused on reaching the poorest.”

Fadi Halisso, co-director of Basmeh & Zeitooneh, another organisation partnered with Christian Aid, which was founded in 2012 to serve Syrian refugees in Lebanon and the region. They now find themselves helping Lebanese citizens as well as Syrian refugees.

Majid Zaarour moved his family from Syria to Lebanon to escape the violence and war.Majid Zaarour moved his family from Syria to Lebanon to escape the violence and war.
Majid Zaarour moved his family from Syria to Lebanon to escape the violence and war.
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Halisso said: “We are overwhelmed with requests: recently we’ve received requests from an average of 10,000 families a month, for food and basic hygiene items.

“Mothers are telling us that they are feeding their babies watered-down tea, as they cannot afford milk or baby formula. Many families who have been out of work for months are barely eating, they send us pictures of their empty kitchen shelves. It’s heart-breaking.”

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