With brooms and shovels, Lebanese volunteers show the true spirit of Beirut

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Volunteers clean the rubble and broken glass from the streets in downtown Beirut on August 6, 2020 in the aftermath of the massive explosion. (Photo by JOSEPH EID / AFP)
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Updated 10 August 2020
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With brooms and shovels, Lebanese volunteers show the true spirit of Beirut

  • Young volunteers take to the streets of the capital to clear the damage caused by Tuesday’s explosions
  • Many were automatically motivated to turn up and help out while others were inspired by social media

BEIRUT: Volunteer civilians armed with brooms and shovels flocked to residential areas damaged by the huge explosion that rocked Beirut on Tuesday evening.

Wearing masks and gloves, they cleaned the debris and glass shards from the inside of homes and the outside of shops.

Martyrs’ Square in downtown Beirut has turned into a volunteer center. Tents have been built and filled with water bottles, bread and food items donated to be distributed to displaced people.

Young women have bought their own brooms and received gloves from the Beirut municipality to protect them from wounds that can be caused by glass fragments.




Lebanese citizens walk to the site of Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area on August 6, 2020 to help in the cleanup. (REUTERS/Aziz Taher)

Other volunteers have come without any protective gear but are holding shovels to remove the rubble and stating that they are not afraid of injury.

Social-media platforms have been behind some people’s enthusiasm to get involved while others have felt spontaneously motivated to turn up and help out.

Ziad Haidar, of the Lebanese Spotlight organization, said: “Similarly to other volunteers, we are school students between the ages of 16 and 18. We participate in cleaning beaches usually, but today people need our help. All we see is destruction, especially in downtown Beirut, Gemmayze and Mar Mikhael.”




Volunteers clean the streets in Beirut's port area on August 5, 2020 following Tuesday's devastating blast. (REUTERS/Aziz Taher)

Ghida, another volunteer, said: “We are college students from Beirut who gathered, went to the Beirut municipality and received gloves. We bought brooms at our own expense. Most affected people are poor and unable to fix anything broken,” 

Jad, 22, and Anas, 21, students at the American University of Beirut (AUB), went to Gemmayze to help. They said that they were not members of any organization but felt the need to take action and not just be bystanders.

“I started helping at my parents’ house, then at the homes of my neighbors,” Anas told Arab News. “We live relatively far from the explosion site but we were affected by the damage. In my neighborhood, I used my car to transport injured people to the hospital.

“The only logical thing I could think of was to offer help. People told me about how they had lost a sister or a daughter, and how some people are still lost and not found in hospitals. That truly affected me.”




Volunteers clean the streets in Beirut's port area on August 5, 2020 following Tuesday's devastating blast. (REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir)

Jad said that he had been trying to emigrate but changed his mind and decided to stay in the country after the explosion at Beirut’s port. “We have not witnessed any wars, and when the 2006 aggression happened, we were kids,” he told Arab News.

“My parents lived through many wars, and yesterday they were shivering and counting on me to rescue them after the explosion. That affected me a lot.”

Jad added: “I turn to them to care for me usually, but yesterday it was the other way around. I used to hear war stories from my grandfather and father, but today I am living that experience, not knowing whether I will ever be able to tell my children about it.

“My grandfather had told me that war is over and behind us, but today it looks like we are heading toward it once again. Where is the happy ending? I do not want to tell my children that we left Lebanon because it became unlivable.”

Sabil spoke on behalf of a group of young women who came from Tripoli. “We are from the Humanities and Social Science Organization. We normally help people in Tripoli, but this is our capital, Beirut, and it is our duty to help it in its disaster,” he told Arab News.

“We know the beautiful buildings in Beirut but they are destroyed today, and people need us. Our parents have accompanied us to Beirut to donate blood in hospitals.

“We worked on removing debris from inside a lot of homes that were left without any furniture, and people are unable to compensate for their losses but if we, young people, continue our volunteer work, we might rebuild the walls that were destroyed. We want to give people hope.”

Nayla Mouawad, a volunteer college student, said: “My female friends and I wore masks and decided to take to the streets. People need us and we must help each other.”

Yvon Azar said: “The streets are crowded because people are coming to Beirut to help. This is humanitarian work we should be proud of.”




Lebanese activists take part in a campaign to clean the damaged neighborhood of Mar Mikhael on August 5, 2020. (AFP / PATRICK BAZ)

Scenes showing young people’s enthusiasm to help were preceded by stories about young men and women who turned into heroes on social media platforms.

Sahar Fares, 25, was the first female paramedic from the Beirut Fire Brigade who was motivated to help her friends put out the fire at the port that led to the huge explosion that happened seconds afterwards. Her body was later found and she was buried on Thursday, amid applause for her patriotism and humanity.

Eight of Sahar’s colleagues are still missing, according to fire brigade commander Nabil Khankarly.

The Order of Nurses mourned five of their colleagues who died in Beirut’s port explosion on Tuesday in the line of duty at hospitals and centers that were destroyed by the blast. The nurses were: Lina Abou Hamdan, Jessy Kahwaji Daoud, Jessica Bazdarjian, Mireille Jermanos and Jacqueline Jibrin.

Meanwhile, people on social media platforms shared a photo of nurse Pamela Zeinoun holding three newborns and trying to keep them warm after the Al-Roum Hospital where she works was extensively damaged.

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Twitter:  @najiahoussari

 


Iranian Ambassador: Saudi Arabia Played Key Role in Preventing Escalation

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Iranian Ambassador: Saudi Arabia Played Key Role in Preventing Escalation

Nearly two years after Iran and Saudi Arabia restored diplomatic relations, Iran’s Ambassador to the Kingdom, Dr. Alireza Enayati, praised Riyadh’s role in reducing tensions and fostering dialogue.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Enayati described the progress as “equivalent to achievements that typically take years,” underscoring what he called the “deep roots and substance” of the relationship.

Enayati, who first served in Saudi Arabia as Iran’s consul in Jeddah in 1990 and later as chargé d’affaires in Riyadh, returned in 2023 as ambassador following the March agreement brokered by China to resume ties after seven years of rupture.

Commenting on recent Israeli strikes against Iran, Enayati called the attacks “blatant aggression,” noting that they took place while Tehran was engaged in indirect negotiations with Washington.

“Iran was attacked in the middle of the night, while people slept in their homes. It was our legitimate right under the UN Charter to respond decisively and demonstrate that while Iran does not seek war, it will defend itself with strength and resolve,” he said.

He emphasized that regional reactions to the escalation highlighted a spirit of solidarity.

“The first call our Foreign Minister received was from Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, condemning the attacks, followed by a statement from the Saudi Foreign Ministry,” he noted. “These positions were crowned by a phone call from His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to President Pezeshkian, expressing condemnation and solidarity, followed by President Pezeshkian’s call back to the Crown Prince and statements of support from several Gulf states.”

Enayati commended Riyadh’s efforts to de-escalate the crisis, describing Saudi Arabia’s role as “honorable” and “blessed.” He added, “In all our bilateral discussions, Iran has acknowledged the Kingdom’s constructive stance and its efforts to prevent further aggression. We welcome any role by our Saudi brothers, especially His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed, who has always stood by us.”

The ambassador pointed to the revival of travel and religious exchange as a sign of rapprochement. “This year alone, over 200,000 Iranians have performed Umrah, and when including Hajj pilgrims, the number exceeds 400,000 visitors to the Kingdom - an extremely positive indicator,” he said.

Enayati also highlighted the recent visit of Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman to Tehran, describing it as a “historic turning point” that shifted relations from routine to strategic. “The visit and the meetings with President Pezeshkian and the Supreme Leader left a strong impression that we are partners in building regional stability,” he said.

While acknowledging significant progress, Enayati stressed that economic and trade relations still require more effort. “We have agreements on trade, investment, culture, and youth reaffirmed in the Beijing accord,” he said, adding that talks are under way on agreements to avoid double taxation, promote mutual investment, and develop overland transport corridors linking Saudi Arabia and its neighbors to Central Asia.

Responding to criticism that Iran plays a destabilizing role, Enayati said: “We are not outsiders imposing our presence. We are part of the region, its people, and its culture. Differences in political perspectives do not erase our shared bonds. Dialogue is the only path forward, and there is no substitute.”

He concluded by emphasizing that genuine regional security must be anchored in development and economic cooperation rather than military competition. “When security moves beyond weapons and geopolitics to focus on prosperity and shared progress, everyone benefits,” he said.


Israelis attack soldiers in occupied West Bank

Updated 33 min 45 sec ago
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Israelis attack soldiers in occupied West Bank

  • Violence has escalated in the West Bank since the start of the Gaza war

JERUSALEM: Israeli civilians assaulted security forces and vandalized military vehicles and a security installation outside an army base overnight in the occupied West Bank, the military said on Monday.

According to Israeli media, settlers targeted the commander of the Binyamin Regional Brigade base in the central West Bank, calling him a “traitor.”

The officer was among troops attacked on Friday night as they tried to stop settlers entering a closed military zone near the Palestinian village of Kafr Malik. Six civilians were arrested following the clashes.

“Dozens of Israeli civilians gathered at the entrance” of the brigade’s base on Sunday evening, the military said in a statement Monday.

“The gathering became violent and some of the civilians at the scene attacked the security forces, sprayed pepper spray at them, and vandalized military vehicles,” it added.

“The IDF (military), police, and border guards intervened to disperse the gathering,” the statement added, noting one Israeli citizen was injured in the confrontation.

In another statement a few hours later, the army said that “Israeli civilians set fire to and vandalized a security site containing systems that contribute to thwarting terrorist attacks” near the base.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar strongly condemned “any violence against the IDF and security forces.”

“Such events are unacceptable, and offenders must be severely punished,” he wrote on X.

“The IDF and security forces work day and night to protect the citizens of Israel and ensure its security. We must support them, not hinder their activities, and under no circumstances attack them,” he added.

Bezalel Smotrich, Israel’s far-right finance minister, a staunch supporter of the settlements who calls for the annexation of the West Bank, also condemned the violence against security forces and the destruction of property, saying a “red line” had been crossed.

In a post on X, he urged the police to investigate the incident and bring those responsible to justice.

Several human rights NGOs have denounced the rise in violence committed by settlers in the West Bank and their perceived impunity.

Violence has escalated in the West Bank since the start of the Gaza war, triggered by the attack by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023.


Sudan refugees face deepening hunger as funds dry up: UN

Updated 30 June 2025
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Sudan refugees face deepening hunger as funds dry up: UN

  • The WFP warned support to Sudanese refugees in Egypt, Ethiopia, Libya and the Central African Republic “may grind to a halt in the coming months as resources run dry"

KHARTOUM: Millions of people displaced by the war in Sudan are at risk of falling deeper into crisis as funding for food aid dwindles, the UN’s World Food Programme warned Monday.
Since April 2023, war between the Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has created the world’s largest displacement crisis, with more than 10 million people displaced inside the country.
Another four million have fled across borders, mainly to Chad, Egypt and South Sudan.
“This is a full-blown regional crisis that’s playing out in countries that already have extreme levels of food insecurity and high levels of conflict,” said Shaun Hughes, WFP’s emergency coordinator for the Sudan regional crisis.
The United Nations says its humanitarian response plan for Sudan — also the world’s largest hunger crisis — is only 14.4 percent funded.
A UN conference in Spain this week aims to rally international donors, following deep funding shortfalls that have affected relief operations globally.
The WFP warned support to Sudanese refugees in Egypt, Ethiopia, Libya and the Central African Republic “may grind to a halt in the coming months as resources run dry.”
In Egypt, which hosts around 1.5 million people who fled Sudan, food aid for 85,000 refugees — 36 percent of those previously supported — had already been cut.
Without new funding, the WFP warned, all assistance to the most vulnerable refugees would be suspended by August.
In Chad, where more than 850,000 people have fled but find little help in overwhelmed camps, the WFP said food rations would be reduced even further.
Around 1,000 refugees continue to arrive in Chad each day from Sudan’s western Darfur region, where famine has already been declared and displacement camps regularly come under attack.
“Refugees from Sudan are fleeing for their lives and yet are being met with more hunger, despair, and limited resources on the other side of the border,” said Hughes.
“Food assistance is a lifeline for vulnerable refugee families with nowhere else to turn.”
Inside Sudan, more than eight million people are estimated to be on the brink of famine, with nearly 25 million suffering dire food insecurity.


Firefighters in Turkiye battle to contain wildfires for second day

Updated 30 June 2025
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Firefighters in Turkiye battle to contain wildfires for second day

  • Helicopters, fire extinguishing aircrafts and other vehicles, and more than a thousand people were trying to extinguish the fires

ISTANBUL: Firefighters in Turkiye are battling wildfires for a second day raging in the western province of Izmir fanned by strong winds, the forestry minister and local media said on Monday
Wildfires in Kuyucak and Doganbey areas of Izmir were fanned overnight by winds reaching 40-50 kph (25-30 mph) and four villages and two neighborhoods had been evacuated, Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli said.
Helicopters, fire extinguishing aircrafts and other vehicles, and more than a thousand people were trying to extinguish the fires, Yumakli told reporters in Izmir.
Media footage showed teams using tractors with water trailers and helicopters carrying water, as smoke billowed over hills marked with charred trees.
Turkiye’s coastal regions have in recent years been ravaged by wildfires, as summers have become hotter and drier, which scientists relate to climate change.


Heatwave leaves Moroccan cities sweltering in record-breaking temperatures

Updated 29 June 2025
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Heatwave leaves Moroccan cities sweltering in record-breaking temperatures

  • In the coastal city of Casablanca, the mercury reached 39.5C (103 Fahrenheit), breaching the previous record of 38.6C set in June 2011

RABAT: Monthly temperature records have been broken across Morocco, sometimes topping seasonal norms by as much as 20 degrees Celsius, the national meteorological office said Sunday, as the North African kingdom was gripped by a heatwave.
“Our country has experienced, between Friday 27 and Saturday 28 of June, a ‘chegui’ type heatwave characterised by its intensity and geographical reach,” the meteorological office (DGM) said in a report shared with AFP.
The heatwave, which has also struck across the Strait of Gibraltar in southern Europe, has affected numerous regions in Morocco.
According to the DGM, the most significant temperature anomalies have been on the Atlantic plains and interior plateaus.
In the coastal city of Casablanca, the mercury reached 39.5C (103 Fahrenheit), breaching the previous record of 38.6C set in June 2011.
In Larache, 250 kilometers (150 miles) up the coast, a peak temperature of 43.8C was recorded, 0.9C above the previous June high, set in 2017.
And in central Morocco’s Ben Guerir, the thermometers hit 46.4C, besting the two-year-old record by 1.1C.
In total, more than 17 regions sweltered under temperatures above 40C, the DGM said, with Atlantic areas bearing the brunt.
“Coastal cities like Essaouira recorded temperatures 10C or 20C above their usual averages” for June, the DGM said.
Inland cities such as Marrakech, Fez, Meknes and Beni Mellal experienced heat 8C to 15C above the norm, with Tangier in the far north at the bottom end of that scale.
The forecast for the days ahead indicates continuing heat in the interior of Morocco due to a so-called Saharan thermal depression, an intense dome of heat over the desert.