More than a hundred days have past, after the Beirut Blast, and pain is still dominant on the Lebanese ground: Homeless families, unsafe homes, unavailable jobs, schools and hospitals still underequipped... A devastating collapse is reflected in a rise in the prices of food and necessary items.

What is new about it?

A 350-page report detailing the probable causes of the blast and those responsible for allowing it to occur, has been handed to the public prosecutor’s office but not made public. It drew on the investigations executed by Lebanon’s Intelligence Information Branch which is part of the Internal Security Forces.

Tania Kassis: Siempre debemos aferrarnos a la esperanza... Estoy segura de que mañana será un día mejor

Tres meses después de la explosión, los libaneses siguen hundidos en su tragedia como resultado de este desastre, que fue un golpe fatal que destruyó sus vidas y su futuro en segundos.

Dr. Michel Abs: esta experiencia es única en la región

El Comité Ecuménico para el socorro de Beirut celebró su reunión ordinaria virtual para hacer un seguimiento del proceso de socorro que el Consejo de Iglesias del Oriente Medio (MECC) está dirigiendo en cooperación con representantes de las iglesias miembros, junto con un equipo de los diversos departamentos del Consejo.

As a part of its ongoing humanitarian work to develop health awareness among members of the society, the Middle East Council of Churches has carried out awareness-raising activities on how to prevent infectious diseases and to take precautions against the Coronavirus.

Syria and Lebanon

Humanitarian Update

Reporting period: from 9 to 16 November 2020

Tania Kassis: We should always hold on to hope... I am sure tomorrow will be a better day

Three months after the blast, the Lebanese are still sinking in their tragedy as a result of a disaster, which was a fatal blow that destroyed their lives and future in seconds. Their physical and psychological health was a calamity at a time when the country was already suffering from crucial crises. Ever since that fateful day, Beiruties continue to face great shock and depression, that is interpreted into painful psychological disorders and severe anger and despair; in addition to permanent health problems.

Dr. Michel Abs: this experience is unique in the region

The Ecumenical Committee for the relief of Beirut held its virtual regular meeting in order to follow up on the relief process that the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) is leading in cooperation with representatives of the Member Churches, along with a team from the council’s various departments. The meeting was chaired for the first time by Dr. Michel Abs, the new MECC Secretary General, who praised this Ecumenical experience.

Today, Beirut needs more support from all the people who love it, so that it can rise from its ashes and return to life. This is the reality of the stricken city and its people 3 months following the blast, this reality was filmed in a video entitled "Beirut, a story of hope", as a salutation of peace and love to every Lebanese who was injured in the capital. This short documentary is a message of hope to the whole world. It is a joint work between the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department and the international organization "Kerk In Actie".

A series of 15 short films depicting what occurred on the 4th of August has been released. Directors focused on the tales of survivors and backstories of the fallen victims. Several artists and filmmakers collaborated in this project, to immortalize the memory of the Beirut blast victims: “We tell their stories so they won’t be forgotten.”

Syria and Lebanon

Humanitarian Update

Reporting period: from 2 to 9 November 2020

El canal de televisión Charity TV dedicó un episodio sobre el Consejo de Iglesias del Oriente Medio en el programa matutino "Hawa Al-Mahba", en el que arrojó luz sobre el mensaje del Consejo, sus programas y aspiraciones en varias áreas. El presentador del programa, Chárbel Zougheib, comenzó el episodio con una entrevista con el Secretario General Dr. Michel Abs, quien expuso su visión y sus proyectos futuros.

Hace tres meses, la policía pidió a diez trabajadores del servicio de emergencia que respondieran a un gran incendio en el puerto de Beirut a las 17:55 horas. Sin embargo, no se les informó de las grandes cantidades de nitrato de amonio almacenadas en el puerto, a pesar de que varios altos funcionarios libaneses sabían de su existencia. A las 18:07 horas, el almacén que almacenaba los productos químicos explotó, matando a los bomberos y al paramédico, con un total de 190 personas muertas en la ciudad.

Tras la explosión de Beirut, el Consejo de Iglesias del Oriente Medio solicitó un Comité Ecuménico para ayudar a la más amplia variedad de personas afectadas, y formó un equipo de responsables en el Consejo y de representantes de las iglesias miembros en Beirut. Para arrojar luz sobre esta labor de socorro sobre el terreno, el Departamento de Comunicación y Relaciones Públicas se reunió con el consultor del Comité, el Rev. Wilbert Van Saane, miembro de la Iglesia holandesa, representante de Kerk in Actie, y profesor de la Escuela Evangélica de Teología de Beirut.

The Charity TV channel dedicated an episode about the Middle East Council of Churches in the morning Show “Hawa Al-Mahba” program, where they shed the light on the Council’s message, its programs and aspirations in several areas. The program's presenter, Charbel Zougheib, started the episode with an interview with the Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs who discussed his vision and his future projects.

Following the Beirut Blast, the Middle East Council of Churches called for an Ecumenical Committee to help the widest range of affected people, it formed a team of responsables in the Council and of representatives of the Member Churches in Beirut. To shed the light on this field relief work, the Communication and Public Relations department met the Committee's consultant, Rev. Wilbert Van Saane, a member of the Dutch Church representing Kerk in Actie, and a professor at the Evangelical Theology School in Beirut.

Three months ago, ten emergency workers were asked by the police to respond to a large fire at the Beirut Dock at 5.55pm. However, they were not informed of the large quantities of ammonium nitrate stored at the port, despite several senior Lebanese officials knowing of its existence. At 6.07 pm, the warehouse storing the chemicals exploded, killing the firefighters and the paramedic, with 190 people in the city killed in all.

El Consejo de Iglesias del Oriente Medio (MECC) condenó el abominable crimen que tuvo lugar en Francia hace pocos días y reveló en su comunicado de prensa que: «la violencia es un crimen contra Dios y contra la humanidad, así que, ¿cómo sería si esto se escondiera detrás de una elección justa, en contra del mensaje de todas las religiones que tienen su base en el amor, en la paz, en la solidaridad y en la aceptación del derecho a la diversidad y a la interacción, y que al mismo tiempo considere la diversidad como un rico patrimonio cultural?».

Syria and Lebanon

Humanitarian Update

Reporting period: from the 24th of October to the 2nd of November 2020