Out of Blood and Concrete

Out of Blood and Concrete

Aline Deschamps

Residential, commercial and semi-industrial buildings are among the most affected. Historically, it accommodated the sick who entered the Lebanese port in the middle of the 16th century. Today, its inhabitants are destitute. Many have lost loved ones, been injured, and have seen their homes destroyed.

On August 4th, 2020 a few days after the explosion, only NGOs came to rebuild what had been demolished, broken, and looted. After two months of strict confinement in Lebanon where construction sites had to be suspended, they were able to resume their activities on February 22 with a limited quota. Among them ,Offrejoie estimates today that despite the slowed pace of reconstruction, “250 of the 300 displaced families have been able to return to their homes, and the rehabilitation process has reached 60% of its target”.

Seven months later investigation into the circumstances of the tragedy which left more than 200 dead and 6,500 injured has still not been concluded. An additional burden for a population already caught up in political turmoil in the midst of a pandemic. The civilian population continues its effort to provide shelter and dignity to the forgotten residents. Portrait of this ephemeral intersectional ecosystem where volunteers, construction workers and local inhabitants meet

A worker, covered in dust, takes a cigratte break on the Karantina site.
In February 2020, it was estimated the reconstruction of Karantina reached at 60% of its process. More than 58 buildings have been rehabilitated including a church and a fire station. On the right, the facade of a building has been completely repainted in red.
Yehya, a 24-year-old Syrian, is one of 250 skilled workers and artisans employed by the NGO Offer Joie. Since August 4, they have been on the ground working for the reconstruction of Karantina, one of the poorest and most affected neighborhoods by the blast in Beirut.
Yehya, a 24-year-old Syrian, is one of 250 skilled workers and artisans employed by the NGO Offer Joie. Since August 4, they have been on the ground working for the reconstruction of Karantina, one of the poorest and most affected neighborhoods in Beirut.
A worker takes his lunch break in Karantina. Behind, clothes are drying on the scaffolding. Having nowhere to stay, some residents are forced to live in a building that is still damaged, pending the completion of reconstruction work.
For some old buildings, the structure of the buildings requires traditional techniques and materials (sand / lime).
A construction worker prays during his lunch break in Karantina, Beyrouth.
Lara Bakar, 22, is French-Lebanese. She decides to join the ranks of 4,500 Lebanese and international volunteers who have joined the NGO Offre Joie for the reconstruction. “The blast impacted me enormously. I am an actress and all my plays were shut down in France because of the confinement. I was really frustrated, so I decided to come see my father for two weeks in Lebanon. When the plane landed, I said to myself that I had to do something for my country. Chance made that I found myself helping at the construction site in Karantina and I finally stayed there for 2 months . I changed my plane ticket 4 times. “
The port of Beirut seen from Karantina, a popular district north of the capital which encircles the east of the port and is less than 2 kilometers from the epicenter of the double explosion on August 4 2020.
Karantina church under reconstruction three months after the double explosion on August 4, 2020.
An apartment in Karantina, a popular district encircling the east of the Port of Beirut, more than three months after the double explosion on August 4, 2020.
A young man standing on the ruins of his neighborhood Karantina , located less than two kilometers from the epicenter of the Beirut blast.
A construction worker working in a building in Karantina. The reconstruction of this Christian part of the district of Karantina is organized by the NGO “Offre Joie”.
A construction worker working in a building in Karantina. The reconstruction of this Christian part of the district of Karantina is organized by the NGO “Offre Joie”.
A construction worker on the ruins of a collapsed house in Karantina, a popular district located less than 2 kilometers from the port of Beirut. The double explosion of August 4, 2020, caused among other things by 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate, left 204 dead and more than 300,000 people homeless.
A woman sits on the steps of the house of her former neighbors, who died in the double explosion on August 4, 2020. The father is the only one who has survived the blast, and recently found exile in Canada.
Michelle, 72, is a French volunteer who joined the NGO ?Joie Offer? on October 26, 2020. ?I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I knew I wanted to help Lebanon as much as possible, because it is a country dear to my heart. I came to the site every day and I found an extraordinary dynamism which gave me courage, even when I was lacking of it .”
A collapsed house in Karantina, a popular district located less than 2 kilometers from the Port of Beirut. The double explosion of August 4, 2020, caused among other things by 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate, left 204 dead and more than 300,000 people homeless.
Two young men lying on a sofa in the popular district of Karantina, located less than 2 kilometers from the port of Beirut. The double explosion of August 4, 2020, caused among other things by 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate, left 204 dead and more than 300,000 people homeless.
A man looks at the statue of the Virgin Mary that he replaced in his building lobby, in the Karantina district located less than 2 kilometers from the port of Beirut. The double explosion of August 4, 2020, caused among other things by 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate, left 204 dead and more than 300,000 people homeless.
One of Karantina’s main streets still devastated more than three months after a double explosion on August 4, 2020, which left 204 people dead and more than 300,000 displaced.
Josephine Jemayel, 83, in the living room of her apartment in Karantina, where she has lived most of her life. Following the double explosion of August 4, her apartment was completely repaired by Lebanese NGOs.
A resident of Karantina cleans the Christian sculpture in her neighborhood between reconstruction tools and scaffolding.
Michelle Zaarour, 17, shows a photo of her scars from the double blast on August 4, 2020. About her lobby, she says: “Before the blast, we had more shishas at home. “
Danielle Zaarour, 19, poses in her living room with the religious paintings, icons and sculptures that she and her family have kept safe in their apartment while awaiting reconstruction of the Karantina church. “Our living room is crowded, but it prevents these works from being even more damaged or stolen”.
Paintings of saints and the Virgin Mary stored in boxes where the streaming platforms “Netflix” and “Youtube” are mentioned, pending the reconstruction of the church of Karantina.
NGO volunteers gathered on the reconstruction field in Karantina, Beirut.
An inhabitant of Karantina poses in front of a destructed home of the neighborhood.
A construction workers poses in their work field in Karantina, Beirut 3 months after the Beirut blast.
Michelle in the her living room 3 months after the Beirut blast. Her house is full of paintings, icons and sculptures her family had to save from more damages and thieves until the rehabiliation of their church.
NGO volunteers gathered on the reconstruction field in Karantina, Beirut.
Tamara Wehbe, a Lebanese civil engineer stands in front of the new walls of a house affacted by the Beirut blast. « It?s so important for me to show to the people the real « us », to show what we are doing on the ground. It all started spontaneously, when we were dispatched. We actually had no idea that each and everyone of us existed. But we collaborated together, we worked together and we are making whatever you see now happen. And this is what?s important for us to show now: that whenever we?re standing together, we?re making this one hand that can do anything. (?)?Personally, I hold so much anger against my government, against my politicians. But rather than always cursing them I realized that I can do better towards my community. I can do what I can to help, instead of them. So basically we?re doing their jobs. That is what is making me stay, hustle more and work harder. »
A construction worker in a damaged house in Karantina, 3 months after the Beirut blast.
A construction worker in the damaged church in Karantina, 3 months after the Beirut blast.
Construction workers in the damaged church in Karantina; 3 months after the Beirut blast.
View of Karantina and the port of a building in Karantina.
Josephine Jemayel, 83, on the rooftop of her building in Karantina, where she has lived most of her life. Following the double explosion of August 4, her apartment was completely repaired by Lebanese NGOs.
Josephine Jemayel, 83, in the living room of her apartment in Karantina, where she has lived most of her life. Following the double explosion of August 4, her apartment was completely repaired by Lebanese NGOs.
Mr. Marc Torbey Helou,President of the NGO Offre Joie in Karantina.
Inside the rehabilited church of Karantina, 7 months after the Beirut blast.
An artisan building new windows for the neighborhood of Karantina.
Mike, 60, builds new windows for the people of Karantina. Since the explosion, more than 2,000 windows have been repaired or rebuilt through various NGOs. Mike and his team produce between 100 and 150 windows per day. “But since the confinement, it is very complicated. We had to stop our activity for two months, and today we have to work at limited capacity. We are limited to 50%, that is to say that we cannot be more than 3 in my team and that slowed down the site a lot. “
Artisans building new windows for the neighborhood of Karantina.
26-year-old Syrian Mahmoud El Assad fled the war before reaching Lebanon. He has lived in Karantina since 2007, alone, in his yellow container. As a road carrier, he unloads the arrivals from the port and delivers them daily by truck throughout the Lebanese territory. “On the day of the explosion, I was working with my employer’s brother. We were facing the explosion. I flew several meters, propelled through the air. My entire container was destroyed. , I had to rebuild my house by myself. The other carriers of this company live in Tripoli, I am the only one living in Karantina. Although some say there is still sodium nitrate next to the port , I cannot move from Karantina. This is where I live at the moment. I hope someone will help me cross the Mediterranean to Europe. “
NGO workers from Offre Joie, saw stones for the reconstruction of buildings destroyed during the August 4th of August blast. The Lebanese NGO was one of the first on the ground, compensating for the lack of state aid. Since the week of April 22, 2021, Offer Joie has been able to resume its activities after two months of interruption due to health restrictions related to Covid-19.
Anna Armao, 75, nicknamed Anoula, was born in Lebanon to Greek parents. She has lived in Karantina since the age of 8. The blast damaged her house, her body and mental health. 7 months after, she is still living in the same apartment, but she couldn?t find the courage to fill up her empty shelf with was once covered with Greek dolls. Even her electronic fans are still unpacked from their plastic wrap. Due to the blast, Anoula has lost her right eye. “While I have always managed to fend for myself, today I can’t do it anymore. I was always independent. Even at my old age, I kept working before the blast. Now I am unable to do it. And my other functioning eye is getting weary. Even walking has become difficult, because I’m afraid I could fall into a hole. I lost my eye…but luckily I’m still alive.?
7 months after the Beirut blast, construction workers are working around the ruins of a collapsed traditional house in Karantina. The explosion of August 4, 2020, caused by 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate, left 204 dead and more than 300,000 people homeless.
The hand of Anoula, a former esthetician (manicurist), regrets not being able to continue working with her clients. In her living room, her two fans are still wrapped in plastic.
7 months after the explosion of August 4, 2020, some residential buildings are still waiting to be rehabilitated and emptied of their furniture.
A group of young road hauliers are resting near the port, seated on their sofas between containers and torn facades.
Emad Constantine (in green) and his brother. Emad is the owner of one of the road transport companies unloading goods from the port of Beirut. Today he is drowning in debt, and has to repair himself his machines and his trucks destroyed during the explosion. Without insurance money. “I still have to repair 8 cranes, 3 trucks, 7 containers and 2 offices, all from my personal money. People don’t think about the bosses who are also facing a very difficult situation after the explosion, especially since ‘we are facing a serious economic crisis. “
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