NNA - The "Stouh Beirut" organization, its President and founder Dalia Dagher, along with her team and several friends and volunteers, welcomed in its offices in Beirut, Minister of Social Affairs Hector Hajjar, Minister of Information Ziad Makary, former Minister and MP Ghassan Hasbani, MP Mark Daou, former MP Amal Bou Zeid, Apostolic Nuncio for Latins in Lebanon, Bishop Cesar Essayan, poet Nizar Francis, maestro Elie el Alia, businesswoman Malak Ibrahim, actresses Nada Bou Farhat and Anjou Reihan, Casino du Liban's Marketing Director Lara Hafiz, Captain Rola Hteit, and several other social and media figures and civil society activists.
This visit was part of the organization's launched emergency relief campaign, in coordination with the Ministry of Social Affairs, relevant ministries, and the Army and security forces, to support internally displaced Lebanese families.
The purpose of the visit was to encourage donors to continue endorsing the organization and to keep abreast of the progress of the humanitarian initiative that "Stouh Beirut" had been a pioneer in launching to assist the Lebanese families of southern Lebanon. The proceeds of the "Ya Habibi Ya Jnoub" concert, initially planned for September 28th, and despite its postponement, were transformed into the "Ya Habibi Ya Lebnan" initiative, after the scope of aid expanded (since September 24) to include all Lebanese regions and not only the south.
The first convoy was accompanied by the Lebanese Army, and it headed to Rmeish, while other convoys later followed to reach Jdeidet and Kolayaat Marjeyoun, in response to Bishop Essayan’s call, then the flow of support extended to reach Tyre, Ghazieh, Marwaniyeh, Eastern Sidon, Beshwat, Akkar, Baakleen, Tripoli, and all the Mount Lebanon areas, and more, addressing the needs of families forcibly staying at their relatives, by providing aid and daily meals, without any sectarian or regional discrimination.
Ministers Hajjar and Makari, along with MPs Hasbani, Bou Zeid, and Bishop Essayan, all acknowledged in their words the importance of cooperation between the state and organizations to successfully support Lebanese citizens. They highlighted the necessity of collaboration between the official community and representatives of the Lebanese state and associations to organize aid efforts. They praised the remarkable role played by "Stouh Beirut" in the current crisis, which demands united endeavors, stressing on the importance of setting aside political differences and disagreements among Lebanese people to prevent sectarian strife and face the war with awareness and responsibility to avoid fragmentation.
Dagher thanked her visitors and clarified that the “Stouh Beirut” employees and volunteers represent today the Lebanon we know, as they come from various Lebanese sects, which explains the momentum and enthusiasm in their work. She emphasized that we are facing a social disaster affecting not only those involved in the conflict but the entire Lebanese population is suffering from halted livelihoods and needs support. She hoped that Lebanese citizens would realize the gravity of the situation and refrain from blaming one another at a time solidarity is crucial to form a strong barrier against the escalating war.
Dagher called on the government to facilitate the transfer of aid from the Lebanese diaspora to officially registered organizations that are active on the ground and she urged the Lebanese diaspora to direct their assistance in an organized and effective manner to stimulate and activate local factories and industries.
She reminded that her initiative "Ya Habibi Ya Lebnan" will extend to Paris, Geneva, and all possible countries where the Lebanese community plays an effective role in supporting the homeland during these difficult times, and this is through two musical concerts that will be led by maestro Eli Alia and featuring, for an hour and a half, a selection of Lebanese songs. This will allow expatriates to donate and support Lebanon. Dagher expressed her gratitude to expatriates for their ongoing cooperation, hoping they will show a strong presence at the concerts in Geneva (November 8) and Paris (November 10), and subsequently in other countries, to foster solidarity and support for the aid of more affected Lebanese families. She concluded with heartfelt greetings to the military institution, which has been incredibly cooperative, hoping that this crisis will end very soon and that displaced Lebanese families will return safely to their homes.
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