‘The wounds of Beirut’ in Sarah’s words, a lasting trauma for victims

7 December 2020

“I remember from that day the sudden impact: the lights going out, my husband reaching out to me with wounds across his body, the fright on my children’s faces.  We are from Syria. We already know all too well the sinister sound of bombs, the shock of sudden attacks, the destruction and devastation everywhere.  Even so, that explosion in the port of Beirut has left us with a lasting trauma of its own. I had thought I could finally live in a safe place without ever having to hear again those terrible sounds”.

Sarah is from Syria. She currently lives in Beirut with her husband and three children.  She remembers August 4th, 2020 as one of the most terrorizing days in her life.

The explosion that devastated the port of Beirut and the surrounding area has resulted in at least 220 casualties and over 7,000 wounded.  200,000 homes were hit, 40,000 buildings had structural damage, and, 15,000 small businesses are on their knees. Three hospitals are temporarily inoperable due to the structural damage, and 178 schools need repairs.

“The explosion has badly damaged our home. We lived in what remained of our apartment for the following two months.  There was nothing left around. Walls were destroyed, windows had huge holes.  We did not sleep for days, and our children suffered from constant nightmares”.

In the most damaged neighborhoods such as Karm el Zeytoun, Karantina, Bourj Hammoud, Geitawi and Nabaa there are still more than 500,000 displaced persons, including Lebanese and Syrian refugees and workers without a home, employment, or resources to provide for basic needs.

Sarah was 8 months pregnant that day. She named her baby girl Farah, who came into this world despite the shortage of medical access due to the lasting structural damage in Beirut.  INTERSOS met Sarah and her family during these complex days, assisting HER with economic support and access to basic goods.

Now, Sarah and her family need a new home, a safe place where they can start over again in a Beirut still devastated from the explosion and in the midst of a worsening economic crisis.