Beirut Lebanon

In August 2020 a huge blast flattened much of the port of Beirut.  It came at a time when Lebanon was facing enormous economic challenges, government corruption and multiple lockdowns due to the pandemic. According to Amnesty International the explosion killed 217 people, injured 7,000 and displaced more than 300,000 people. 

Life in Lebanon today is still hard. Pastor Marwan of City Bible Church in Beirut, which was damaged in the explosion, was interviewed by Evangelical Focus—Europe. In the interview he shared that the Lebanese people are still in shock—“there is still much trauma, shock, fear, anxiety, hurt and depression….the people are tired of being resilient. They just want to live in peace.”  Corsaire Vining has been working through Tying Vines with City Bible Church and  Home of Hope children’s home. She recently shared some of the day to day life challenges that she and most of the population in Beirut are facing. There are gas lines that last for hours and ultimately the gas is gone before arriving at the pump. Pharmacy shelves are empty. There are food shortages and electricity outages. “Several times a day electricity will just cut off and there will be no way of knowing when it will come back.” Walk with Me reported that with electricity being shut off for 9 hours a day, their “vital programs like the nutrition center which feeds many families, the medical clinic, sewing school, carpentry school and dental clinic have been adversely affected. The electric company announced that soon there will be total blackouts.” The list of needs is endless and resources are limited.