In the News
Our Hearts Are with Beirut
The Communist Party of Canada (Marxist-Leninist)
expresses its deepest sympathies to the families of all victims of the
August 4 explosion in Beirut, another tragedy of unprecedented
proportions which has hit the Lebanese people at home and abroad
including the large Lebanese community in Quebec and Canada. Our hearts
go out to those living in Beirut and to the Lebanese people who have
been sorely tested, and even more so within the extremely difficult
conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic, onerous demands and conditions
imposed by the international financial institutions and continuous
breaches of Lebanon's sovereignty by Zionist and Anglo-American forces
along with Lebanon's former colonial power France and others such as
Canada.
Canada's Lebanese community, which is particularly
concentrated in Quebec, immediately organized to exchange information
on the tragedy, contact relatives in Lebanon and begin the work of
helping the stricken population. Throughout Canada and around the
world, people from all walks of life did not hesitate to express their
condolences and unite their efforts into collective action to assist
the Lebanese people in this time of urgent need.
On August 4, 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate stored
in a warehouse at Beirut's port ignited, causing a massive explosion
which destroyed half of the city, entire neighbourhoods and the port.
Buildings shook and windows were shattered for miles around. The blast
was felt on the island of Cyprus, some 200 kilometres away. According
to the latest estimate, 300,000 people are now homeless. At least 137
people have died and more than 5,000 have been injured, with dozens of
others still missing. Homes have been lost, blackouts continue, medical
equipment and food stores have been wiped out.
The trauma of those affected by the explosion will
take a long time to overcome while the sight of the mushroom cloud
rising over Beirut will remain fixed in the minds of an entire people
and all of us who watched in horror.
On the evening of August 6, the Lebanese Consulate
in Montreal organized a candlelight vigil in front of its building.
 CPC(M-L) calls on
Canadians to show solidarity with the people of Beirut and all our
compatriots here in Quebec and Canada by contributing to the
fundraising campaign initiated by the Centre National Libano Canadien
(CNLC) to assist the people of Lebanon, especially the residents of
Beirut who are hard pressed for relief after the explosion.[1]
The CNLC has already been working to support
Lebanese regional hospitals and clinics with much needed essential
medical equipment to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. They report that
"thanks to many efforts and enormous generosity, we were able to put
together a 40 square foot container of medical equipment including
wheelchairs, hospital beds."
The CNLC calls on Canadians today to stand with
the Lebanese people in their time of need. With extra effort the
medical centres can receive needed equipment and medical supplies, and
people can be provided with housing, food, and more.
"All donations will go to cover the expenses of
the shipping and administrative procedures required to deliver
containers and to the distribution of food boxes to families in need
through the Lebanese Red Cross and CNLC volunteers. We are now a few
steps away from being able to send this urgent material to Lebanon. Any
amount donated will go a long way and will allow us to complete this
process."
The request for assistance is two-fold:
- Financial:
money donations can be made directly through this
website.
- Donations of
medical material and equipment (beds, stretchers, wheelchairs), warm
clothing, tents and non-perishable food that will be sent by container
to Lebanon. There is currently no deadline for shipment. Contact CNLC for
more details.
Note
1."The
Centre National Libano Canadien (CNLC) is a Lebanese-Canadian
not-for-profit organization that provides services to the Middle
Eastern and mainstream communities in the Greater Montreal Area, from
education, employment help, health services, cultural activities
& much more. Located in the greater Montreal area, we also have
bridges directly to Lebanon that allow us to help people in both
countries."
This article was published in
Volume 50 Number 29 - August 8, 2020
Article Link:
In the News: Our Hearts Are with Beirut
Website: www.cpcml.ca
Email: editor@cpcml.ca
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