Muscat: As the first Omani relief flights arrived in the Lebanese capital Beirut, which includes 22 tons of various medical supplies and essential humanitarian needs, the Lebanese community in Oman too is mobiising resources to be sent to their home country on a war-footing.
Zeinab, a member of Lebanese community in Oman, has joined hands with the prominent charity organisation in Oman, Dar Al Atta, to mobilise funds to be sent to Lebanon. “My relatives and family were impacted by the blast that happened in Beirut. My little cousin got seriously injured and it breaks my heart to see the travails of those who were injured, and of those who lost lives and homes.”
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Zeinab who normally is a silent contributor to the many charity causes, decided to come into the limelight by teaming up with Dar Al Atta, an organisation in Oman known for their charitable efforts and released a video featuring many from Lebanese community requesting support to their brethren. So far the collective effort has helped raise RO40,000.
Another prominent businessman in Oman, Majdi W. Atallah, Executive Partner of Al Jabal Trading and Refrigerating Company LLC, says that the emptiness and pain felt by the survivors cannot be described or understood by someone who has never experienced it. “We are shocked and can’t express how sorry we are that this tragedy befell Beirut. This is heartbreaking for all of us here and we share the pain with them. We have initiated efforts together with a prominent Lebanese entrepreneur in Oman, Bassem Bu Kamel, and we are communicating with all our suppliers to reach out to Lebanon with supplies of food products, which will be concluded soon after the Eid holidays. We are thankful to Oman, which is also my birth-nation and the people of Oman for standing by our side at all times.”
Pascale Hachem, who works as a cabin crew with a leading airline in Oman, says that since the blast happened, she wakes up daily hoping to erase the memories of the horrific scenes she saw on social media. “The words of my family as they described the event, and the pain I see in all the Lebanese people knowing how many innocent people lost their loved ones, how many children became orphans and the people that became homeless, is too painful for me. It breaks my heart to see my beautiful country like this knowing next time I land in Beirut it won’t be the same as I left it. It is absolutely vital that everyone who feels sympathy to this situation should donate if they are at the means to do so.” Pascal says.
The same view is reflected by Nisreen, another Lebanese woman, working as cabin crew with a leading airline. Nisreen was in Beirut when the blast happened, and she says it is going to be next to impossible to erase those moments from her memory.
“We were outside our home when this happened and I can still hear the eerie blast in my ears when I think of that day. We stand for each other and even at this time, it is heartening to note the resilience among my people, who have come forward straight from their hospital beds to lend a helping hand to those who have fallen. We will rise up, I am sure, and we have such lovely friendly ties with Oman who have come forward to help us, and it is just a matter of time, when Lebanon will shine again.” Nisreen says.
