El Dr. Michel Abs, Secretario General del MECC, participó en una reunión de presentación virtual para conocerse, organizada por el departamento del Consejo para el Servicio de los Refugiados Palestinos (DSPR: Department for the Service of Palestinian Refugees), durante la cual expuso su plan de trabajo para los próximos cuatro años, en medio de los desafíos que el Consejo enfrenta hoy en día.

Dr. Michel Abs, the MECC Secretary General, in a first acquaintance meeting with the DSPR team

Necesitamos con urgencia estar unidos como cristianos mientras trabajamos juntos y mostramos el cristianismo a través de nuestras obras

A raíz de la explosión de Beirut, las familias de las iglesias y sus instituciones afiliadas se apresuraron a ayudar a los afectados, a calmar su dolor y curar sus heridas, que ahora son eternas. En cooperación con organizaciones humanitarias locales e internacionales, como el Consejo de Iglesias del Medio Oriente-Departamento de Diaconía, las diócesis y arquidiócesis de Beirut continúan sus esfuerzos para apoyar a aquellos que han sido afectados psicológica, moral y financieramente; especialmente porque se ahogan en un ciclo interminable de crisis asfixiantes y no podrán salir fácilmente de él.

Dr. Michel Abs, el secretario general del MECC inició sus visitas oficiales a los presidentes del Consejo para agradecerles su confianza en elegirlo como secretario general por cuatro años. Su primera visita fue a Su Beatitud Bechara Pedro card. Rai en la sede del Patriarcado en Bkerke. Estuvo acompañado por el P. Gabriel Hachem, el Secretario General Adjunto y director del Departamento Teológico y Ecuménico, la Sra. Huguette Salameh, directora del Departamento de Comunicación y Relaciones Públicas, y la Sra. Nina Hallak, coordinadora del Departamento de Diaconía en Beirut.

In the wake of the Beirut Blast, the churches families and their affiliated institutions rushed to save their affected, to calm their pain and heal their wounds, which are now eternal. In cooperation with local and international humanitarian organizations, such as the Middle East Council of Churches – Diakonia Department, Beirut's dioceses and archdioceses continue their efforts to support those who have been affected psychologically, morally and financially; especially as they drown in an endless cycle of suffocating crises and will not be able to get out of it easily.

Although the Lebanese and international observers were hopeful that the FBI would disclose a revelation that would inflame the media, it unfortunately released an inconclusive report which left many questions unanswered. However, not all hope is lost as the judge overseeing the case is still awaiting the French Investigators’ report which is expected to be more comprehensive and conclusive than the one the FBI handed over, which had not determined whether the explosion was accidental or not.

Dr. Michel Abs, the MECC Secretary General started his official visits to the council’s Presidents to thank them for their confidence in electing him as Secretary General for four years. Therefore, his first visit was to His Beatitude Mar Bechara Boutros Al Rahi at the Patriarchate headquarters in Bkerke. He was accompanied by Fr. Gabriel Hachem, the Associate Secretary General and director of the Theological and Ecumenical Department, Mrs. Huguette Salameh, director of the Communication and Public Relations Department, and Ms. Nina Hallak, coordinator of the Diakonia Department in Beirut.

Winter is coming, the economic crisis is getting worse and worse, the spread of the Corona virus is increasing horribly and Beirut’s citizens are still suffering from their bleeding wounds. Over 60 days have passed on the catastrophe that hit Beirut, and huge damages still linger on whereas Lebanese people are exhausted from trying to survive while facing an unknown fate. Who will save them from this disaster that ruined their lives and destroyed their future?

In a progressive step towards finding the real reason behind the Beirut blast, the FBI delivered its final report to the judge overseeing the issue. Although there are no indications to what is the content of the report, the judge is still waiting for similar reports from French and British explosives experts. Hopefully, a verdict will be passed soon and those responsible for the reckless actions that lead to the disaster will be brought to justice.

The catastrophe that hit the heart of the capital Beirut on the 4th of August, at a time where the country was drowning in an endless cycle of political, economic and health crises. On that day, the scale was tipped, during which the Lebanese people lived horrifying and difficult hours in a tragic black cloud. But the very next day, the Lebanese rushed to the streets of the destroyed capital, and before scenes of massive destruction, they stood in solidarity to save their injured capital, in complete absence of the government. The Lebanese people, especially youth, refused to have their dreams buried in these streets, that turned into war-like zones; rather they wanted to saw hope to rebuild their Beirut.

Télé Lumière - Noursat dedicated a weekly segment for the Middle East Council of Churches every Thursday in "Al Nour Maana" show, to discuss the latest updates regarding the MECC appeal as well its relief and development projects in Beirut.

The families of the victims and those affected are revolting

Although at a smaller scale, demonstrations once again erupted in the capital, calling for justice transparency and the truth. Till today, not one low or high level employee, or political figure has been sacked, revealing the degree of accountability in the country. Laughably, the government during the beginning of the month, mourned the death of a Kuwaiti ruler when it continuously failed to honor those that fell in Beirut, by delivering swift justice. Yet again, our political elite sucked up to our wealthier neighbors hoping to receive some petty cash. As for the matter of those that had fallen, knowing Lebanon’s history and political climate, they may join a long roster of casualties that were forgotten across the ages.

La UNIFIL interviene

Esta semana, la UNIFIL envió sus fuerzas al puerto de Beirut para apoyar a las autoridades con la remoción de escombros y apoyar los esfuerzos de construcción luego de la devastadora explosión del puerto del 4 de agosto. Los equipos de la ONU lo harán en tres fases, para permitir que las operaciones en el puerto se reanuden lo antes posible, ya que la economía del país también está en ruinas y se necesita cada centavo. Sin embargo, no hay duda de que este esfuerzo es una buena señal de que el Líbano es una de las principales preocupaciones de la comunidad internacional. Tal vez, esta sea una buena señal de que la intervención extranjera en la construcción aumentará con el tiempo y pondrá de rodillas a los responsables de la tragedia o de la corrupción en el Líbano.

After the 4th of August, the words "explosion, port disaster, Beirut does not die, victims, destruction, funerals, injured, transparent international investigation, corruption,…” are dominating the Lebanese scene and all Lebanese conversations. Moreover, pain and sadness are at a greater depth in the Lebanese hearts; and with every sun rise the effects of the hideous crime that hit the capital are revealed further. Everyone is still under shock. Adults and young people are suffering from psychological symptoms and depression in addition to permanent health problems. How do people recuperate their wellbeing, how do they heal from such traumatic symptoms?

The UNIFIL intervenes

This week, the UNIFIL dispatched its forces to the Beirut port to support authorities with the clearing of debris and construction efforts in the aftermath of the devastating Aug. 4 port explosion. UN teams will do so in three phases, to allow operations at the port to resume as soon as possible, seeing that the country’s economy is also in ruins and every penny is needed. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that this endeavor is a good sign that Lebanon is one of the international community’s primary concern. Maybe, this is a good sign that constructive foreign intervention will increase over time, and put those who were responsible for the tragedy or for the corruption in Lebanon on their knees.

Very recently, a survey was carried out by the Lebanese army in the devastated Beirut port and it was discovered 49 containers of flammable materials, such as acid and other materials used in the manufacture of paint, and raw materials. Consequently, the army held more than one meeting with representatives of the European Union, to conclude an agreement that the European Union would undertake the financing and management of the disposal of these inflammable materials. However, these materials have been present at the port since 10 years.

At 6:07 pm Beirut time, “the ground shook beneath our feet in the emergency room, and after a few seconds, we heard the sound of an explosion, the ceiling collapsed, pieces of shattered glass were flying from all sides, and the sound of the siren became stuck in our ears”. Who knew that the 4th of August 2020 will be a catastrophic day which will change the Lebanese people’s course of life and turn the capital of Light into a devastated city? “After few moments, people began arriving in great numbers, drenched in blood and crying out in pain!” This is to describe the state of total panic in one of Beirut’s hospitals at the time of the terrible explosion that occurred on August 4.

It has been over a month since the drastic explosion, and the country is still agonizing to know the truth. Local and international investigation teams were dispatched to the site to uncover the real reason behind the incident and to this very moment, nothing has been revealed. So far, it has been deemed as an ‘accident’ in which a not-so-easily flammable material was mysteriously set ablaze. To make things even more baffling, and 40 days after the explosion, a fire broke out at the port, burning a part of ICRC's stock of food parcels. Without jumping into conspiracy theories, which entails major players in the region, one can easily point out the absurdity of the situation.

Latest updates and humanitarian response

Report #3

Reporting Period: From September 3 to September 9, 2020

The Journalist Huguette Salameh, Director of the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department, was the guest of "Al Mawa’d" program broadcasted on Maryam TV. During her interview, she mentioned the humanitarian and disaster relief role the MECC is executing since its foundation in 1974, in addition to its mission and goals. She also highlighted the MECC Beirut Appeal issued due to the Beirut Port explosion that occurred on the 4th of August 2020.