Beirut Mini Mart & Family
Donation protected
Thank you to everyone who reached out to me on 4 August as Beirut port exploded. I live around 750m from the port, straight in front of the part that blew, and I was fortunately face down on my terrace, not inside my apartment, when the shock wave hit :) I am uninjured, unscarred and it is likely I will get my apartment back at some point. Close friends, as well as others in my building and nearby were not so lucky.
The cross on the BBC map shows where I live. The dot is the St George's hospital within a 1km radius that got lots of BBC coverage and lost many staff.
I have had friends - and people here who have never even met me - clearing the glass, packing my things, giving me free food. But for everyone outside Lebanon who reached out offering me support, money, accommodation abroad, what I would really like is for my local shopkeeper and his family to be helped.
This is Bilal's youngest son. His wife and two other sons are also pictured below. Bilal and his family live a road closer to the port - their home, car, business are destroyed. Several of the family are significantly injured in a country with a mostly privatized health system. Rebuilding without an income is an impossibility for many families here. I was in the shop every few days and Bilal would save me the spiciest chillies :) He never kept the change, even as the currency declined, and he always gave me credit if I didn't have cash. So, if you wanted to help me, please, this is by far the best way to do so.
Should we raise more money than is needed to rebuild and secure the shop, it will go towards their home, their medical bills and the many other families in the neighborhood who have also lost everything. While funding is coming, the number with needs is too great and anything you can give will help and I promise will go straight to the beneficiaries. Thank you, with lots of love and gratitude to you all :)
The cross on the BBC map shows where I live. The dot is the St George's hospital within a 1km radius that got lots of BBC coverage and lost many staff.I have had friends - and people here who have never even met me - clearing the glass, packing my things, giving me free food. But for everyone outside Lebanon who reached out offering me support, money, accommodation abroad, what I would really like is for my local shopkeeper and his family to be helped.
This is Bilal's youngest son. His wife and two other sons are also pictured below. Bilal and his family live a road closer to the port - their home, car, business are destroyed. Several of the family are significantly injured in a country with a mostly privatized health system. Rebuilding without an income is an impossibility for many families here. I was in the shop every few days and Bilal would save me the spiciest chillies :) He never kept the change, even as the currency declined, and he always gave me credit if I didn't have cash. So, if you wanted to help me, please, this is by far the best way to do so.
Should we raise more money than is needed to rebuild and secure the shop, it will go towards their home, their medical bills and the many other families in the neighborhood who have also lost everything. While funding is coming, the number with needs is too great and anything you can give will help and I promise will go straight to the beneficiaries. Thank you, with lots of love and gratitude to you all :)
Organizer
Nisha Makan
Organizer