20. Beirut: The explosion from the people’s perspective
08/11/20 • 44 min
The whole world was shocked by the footage of last week’s explosion in Beirut. It hardly looked real. But amongst the thousands of videos of the blast and the statistics being reported in the press internationally, are the hundreds of thousands of people who have been impacted by the tragedy.
Today you will hear from two of these people, Lebanese rapper and director at Beirut Records, Jeff Bourjaili, and Syrian refugee and communications officer at SB Overseas, Ahmad Hafez. Both of them call Beirut home.
In this episode, both guests share their important and different perspectives on the explosion. Jeff, whose home in the neighbourhood of Gemmayze in the city centre, has been completely destroyed, explores the failings of the Government and the frustration of the Lebanese people.
Ahmad Hafez, who has been living in Beirut since 2018 when he fled compulsory military service in his hometown of Aleppo, represents the huge refugee population living in and around Beirut. An estimated up to 1 million Syrians live in the city, and around 1.5 million Syrians live across Lebanon.
Ahmad Hafez also works for the incredible grassroots charity SB Overseas, who focus mainly on education and empowerment for displaced people in Lebanon - predominantly Syrians and Palestinians. In Beirut, SB Overseas run a beautiful school for the Syrian children living in Shatila refugee camp, which I had the pleasure of spending some time in last year. Even though Shatila camp is pretty far outside of the city centre, it’s residents were still impacted by the explosion and Ahmad Hafez explains the heartbreaking effects on his community.
In the aftermath of the explosion, SB overseas have shifted their focus to support the city’s most vulnerable with their urgent needs - including Lebanese residents. Their work is incredible and invaluable, and this podcast episode is in support of them. To donate:
https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/wwtsupportbeirut
Beirut will never be the same again, and everyone there will carry the events of the 4th August, 2020 with them forever. They will make it through this but right now they need not just out empathy, but our action. Most of us are not able to be there digging through the rubble, but can can support those that are.
For anyone who has never been to Beirut, or doesn’t know anyone there, it’s natural that the events of this last week might feel far away. Thank you for being here and opening your hearts and your minds to these important voices and to Beirut and it’s people. They need us right now.
To support this podcast: https://www.patreon.com/theworldwidetribe
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The whole world was shocked by the footage of last week’s explosion in Beirut. It hardly looked real. But amongst the thousands of videos of the blast and the statistics being reported in the press internationally, are the hundreds of thousands of people who have been impacted by the tragedy.
Today you will hear from two of these people, Lebanese rapper and director at Beirut Records, Jeff Bourjaili, and Syrian refugee and communications officer at SB Overseas, Ahmad Hafez. Both of them call Beirut home.
In this episode, both guests share their important and different perspectives on the explosion. Jeff, whose home in the neighbourhood of Gemmayze in the city centre, has been completely destroyed, explores the failings of the Government and the frustration of the Lebanese people.
Ahmad Hafez, who has been living in Beirut since 2018 when he fled compulsory military service in his hometown of Aleppo, represents the huge refugee population living in and around Beirut. An estimated up to 1 million Syrians live in the city, and around 1.5 million Syrians live across Lebanon.
Ahmad Hafez also works for the incredible grassroots charity SB Overseas, who focus mainly on education and empowerment for displaced people in Lebanon - predominantly Syrians and Palestinians. In Beirut, SB Overseas run a beautiful school for the Syrian children living in Shatila refugee camp, which I had the pleasure of spending some time in last year. Even though Shatila camp is pretty far outside of the city centre, it’s residents were still impacted by the explosion and Ahmad Hafez explains the heartbreaking effects on his community.
In the aftermath of the explosion, SB overseas have shifted their focus to support the city’s most vulnerable with their urgent needs - including Lebanese residents. Their work is incredible and invaluable, and this podcast episode is in support of them. To donate:
https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/wwtsupportbeirut
Beirut will never be the same again, and everyone there will carry the events of the 4th August, 2020 with them forever. They will make it through this but right now they need not just out empathy, but our action. Most of us are not able to be there digging through the rubble, but can can support those that are.
For anyone who has never been to Beirut, or doesn’t know anyone there, it’s natural that the events of this last week might feel far away. Thank you for being here and opening your hearts and your minds to these important voices and to Beirut and it’s people. They need us right now.
To support this podcast: https://www.patreon.com/theworldwidetribe
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Previous Episode
19. Imprisoned, raped and sold in slave markets at the hands of ISIS: The Story of Yazidi Genocide Surviver Farida Khalaf
Today is the six year anniversary of the Yazidi Genocide.
If you don't know about the Yazidi people or what happened to them...this is the episode for you.
My guest this week is Farida Khalaf - a Yazidi girl from a village in Northern Iraq - 100km west of Mosul. The Yazidi religion is an ancient minority in predominantly muslim Iraq, and when ISIS seized the city of Mosul in June 2014, Farida feared that her village would be next.
On 3rd August 2014, ISIS fighters began the systematic slaughter of Farida’s people. Just under two weeks later, on the 15th August, they surrounded her village, rounded up it’s inhabitants and killed every man and boy. The women were taken to be sold, tortured, raped and enslaved.
Farida shares her insanely harrowing story, from a simple village life, to mass rape, beatings and abuse at the hands of ISIS. Amazingly, Farida managed to escape and has gone on to write a book about her experience called ‘The Girl Who Beat ISIS'. She now lives in Germany where she is an advocate for Yazidi women globally.
This episode is dedicated to every Yazidi who lost their life, experienced torture or continues to live under ISIS control.
To support this podcast: https://www.patreon.com/theworldwidetribe
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Next Episode
21. From Radical Jihad to Radical Inclusion: The Story of former Extremist Manwar Ali
My guest this week is Manwar Ali - a former radical Jihadist who is now a leading campaigner in Britain against violence and extremism, and works with the UK police and Home Office to prevent radicalisation in young people.
Whilst studying in London in the late 1970’s, Manwar gradually became radicalised and was involved in radical Jihad for 15 years, recruiting others, fundraising and fighting for the cause. He is now one of the only scholars in the UK who has been directly involved in violent jihad and he draws on these experiences to address issues of extremism through education, social projects, charitable events and open discussion .
Manwar and his wife came to my house for this conversation and it was very emotional for both Manwar and I. There's something really powerful about owning your mistakes and going through such a huge transition. Manwar is sincere and I truly believe anyone listening to this will understand what happened to him and the decisions he made. Manwar continues to teach Islam and now encourages anyone drawn to violence to let go of anger and hatred and instead see the beauty, goodness and truth in others. I hope you enjoy this eye opening and educational episode.
To support this podcast: https://www.patreon.com/theworldwidetribe
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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