Lebanon Crisis Obstructs Aid to The Underprivileged

The moon is seen over Al-Amin Mosque on the second day of the holy month of Ramadan in Beirut, Lebanon May 18, 2018. Image used for illustrative purposes. REUTERS/ Jamal Saidi
The moon is seen over Al-Amin Mosque on the second day of the holy month of Ramadan in Beirut, Lebanon May 18, 2018. Image used for illustrative purposes. REUTERS/ Jamal Saidi
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Lebanon Crisis Obstructs Aid to The Underprivileged

The moon is seen over Al-Amin Mosque on the second day of the holy month of Ramadan in Beirut, Lebanon May 18, 2018. Image used for illustrative purposes. REUTERS/ Jamal Saidi
The moon is seen over Al-Amin Mosque on the second day of the holy month of Ramadan in Beirut, Lebanon May 18, 2018. Image used for illustrative purposes. REUTERS/ Jamal Saidi

The holy month of Ramadan comes this year amid two major crises that cast a hefty shadow over Lebanon. The outbreak of the novel coronavirus imposes social distancing measures, preventing families from reuniting around Iftar banquets, while banking procedures stop the more fortunate to withdraw sufficient funds to support those in need.

Despite all these obstacles, preparations for the holy month continued with the available capabilities.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Sharia Judge and head of Mount Lebanon Zakat Fund, Sheikh Mohammed Hani al-Jouzou said: “The charitable kitchens in Dar Al Iftaa have opened their doors to prepare fresh meals to be delivered to needy families by the municipalities.”

He added that charitable organizations, which are affiliated to the endowments or to civil society groups, launched a complete census of underprivileged families, to provide them with food supplies.

Fida Attar, official at Ashghalouna – an entity within the Social Welfare Institution (Dar al-Aytam) - told Asharq Al-Awsat that the association was committed to helping the registered families, but underlined the presence of financial difficulties due to the scarce donations as a result of banking restrictions on withdrawals.

“There are difficulties in individual assistance. A large number of Lebanese have been donating to needy families during the month of Ramadan. But banking measures have prevented depositors from obtaining the necessary funds,” Attar noted.

The director of the Lebanese Center for Research and Consulting in Sidon, Hassan Qutub, said that the relevant organizations have adapted their operations to the measures imposed by the curfew.

He explained that banquets that used to gather needy families in restaurants would be canceled. Instead, fresh meals would be delivered right to their doorstep. Some associations sought to provide other supplies, including infant milk, he said.

Qutub stressed that the financial situation and the outbreak of the coronavirus would prevent families from reuniting around Iftar dinners during the holy month.



EU Urges Immediate Halt to Israel-Hezbollah War

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, left, meets with Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri, right, in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP)
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, left, meets with Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri, right, in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP)
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EU Urges Immediate Halt to Israel-Hezbollah War

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, left, meets with Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri, right, in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP)
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, left, meets with Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri, right, in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP)

Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell called for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war while on a visit to Lebanon on Sunday, as the group claimed attacks deep into Israel.  

The Israeli military said Iran-backed Hezbollah fired around 160 projectiles into Israel during the day. Some of them were intercepted but others caused damage to houses in central Israel, according to AFP images.  

A day after the health ministry said Israeli strikes on Beirut and across Lebanon killed 84 people, state media reported two strikes on Sunday on the capital's southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold.

Israel's military said it had attacked "headquarters" of the group "hidden within civilian structures" in south Beirut.

War between Israel and Hezbollah escalated in late September, nearly a year after the group began launching strikes in solidarity with its Palestinian ally Hamas following that group's October 7 attack on Israel.

The conflict has killed at least 3,754 people in Lebanon since October 2023, according to the health ministry, most of them since September.  

On the Israeli side, authorities say at least 82 soldiers and 47 civilians have been killed.  

Earlier this week, US special envoy Amos Hochstein said in Lebanon that a truce deal was "within our grasp" and then headed to Israel for talks with officials there.  

In the Lebanese capital, Borrell held talks with parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri, who has led mediation efforts on behalf of ally Hezbollah.

"We see only one possible way ahead: an immediate ceasefire and the full implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701," Borrell said.  

"Lebanon is on the brink of collapse", he warned.  

Under Resolution 1701, which ended the last Hezbollah-Israel war of 2006, Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers should be the only armed forces present in the southern border area.  

The resolution also called for Israel to withdraw troops from Lebanon, and reiterated earlier calls for "disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon."