In blast-hit Beirut, Armenian elders are determined to stay

Members of the Lebanese NGO “AGBU” (Armenian General Benevolent Union) help with the renovation of a flat belonging to an Armenian family that was damaged by a huge explosion that destroyed parts of Beirut. The August 4 blast at Beirut's port killed more than 190 people, injured thousands and ravaged dwellings in large parts of the capital.

Berjouhi Kasparian, a frail 90-year-old with short white hair, said that even though she had three children living abroad, she would not leave the Geitawi apartment where she has lived on and off since she was 10.

Lebanese Armenian Vany Bandikian leans on a broken wooden door in her family house which was damaged by the huge explosion at Beirut's port a month ago.

Lebanese Armenian Vany Bandikian points at damages in her family house caused by the huge explosion at Beirut's port a month ago.

At a home for the elderly in Bourj Hammoud, its manager Sebouh Terzian said he was grateful a donor had pledged $22,000 to fix the damaged building

Residents of the Armenian CAHL nursing home and care center in the Bourj Hammoud neighbourhood of the Lebanese capital Beirut, sit together in the center's courtyard.

Residents of the Armenian CAHL nursing home and care center in the Bourj Hammoud neighbourhood of the Lebanese capital Beirut.

In Mar Mikhail, Dikran Geuzubeuyukian, 58, and his teenage children have received food aid and help to renovate their damaged flat.

But the cast-iron craftsman said he had mixed feelings about moving back in after the repairs have been finished. From the kitchen, he can see what remains of the port's grain silos, while in the corridor, there is the place where he found his wife Liza, who died in the explosion.

Members of the Lebanese NGO “AGBU” (Armenian General Benevolent Union) help with the renovation of a Beirut flat belonging to an Armenian family. The charity has fixed 100 homes and started work on 80 others in blast-affected areas, AGBU's Lebanon director Arine Ghazarian said.