Doha: Students from Northwestern University in Qatar (NU-Q), Qatar Foundation (QF) partner University, have shared their contribution to supporting those affected by the Beirut Port explosion.
Ria Sayadi, a Lebanese student at Northwestern University in Qatar, a QF partner university, talked about the explosion that took place in Beirut a few weeks ago, describing it as “a painful shock”, and how it overwhelmed her with a deep sense of guilt and helplessness as she is so far away from her country, unable to help.
“I watched the explosion video over and over again. I could not believe what was happening. My hand felt paralysed due to fear, and after several attempts of trying to make that phone call — I finally rang my family. It turned out that they had left the house just before the explosion. And none of them were hurt,” said Ria.
But Ria learned that her cousin has been injured by shards of broken glass. And that was the first time she heard him crying in despair. “Here, we die every day a thousand times,” Ria’s cousin told her.
Ria wonders if she will ever be able to go back to her home one day. She wonders if she will ever be able to have a family whose children can create memories in Beirut. “We don’t know where we are going, and what the future holds for us,” Ria said.
Elyssa Gaddas, another student from Northwestern Qatar, shares Ria’s feelings.
“At a time when Lebanon is suffering from economic, social, and political crises, we find ourselves facing a catastrophe that causes the death of hundreds of people, thousands are injured, and homes are destroyed.”
Elyssa says she too is worried about the future, wondering if the Lebanese people will recover from the effects of the explosion. She believes the change that young people are leading is the only guarantee that “will help us make our country a better place to live,” she said.
To support Beirut, Elyssa and Ria organised a donation drive for those affected by the explosion, in which students from QF, Lebanese and Arab residents, participated.
“As young people, we have to come together to help our society and make a difference. That is why we, along with many QF community members, organised a donation campaign that included medicines, food, and clothes. We sent them in boxes to Lebanon through social workers. We also collected money and delivered it to the Qatar Red Crescent Society which was received in Lebanon” Ria said.
Elyssa said that they donated directly to the Lebanese Red Cross and medical centres in Lebanon and participated in the gatherings organised in Doha to support Beirut, where they lit candles. “We also created a website to collect donations and used our social media platforms to raise awareness about the impact of coming together and showing solidarity in this difficult time.”
Donation campaigns, such as “Beirut in our hearts”, were launched everywhere in Qatar.
“The great support provided by the Qatari government to help the Lebanese people made us feel very grateful to the country in which I have lived all my life, and which I consider as my second home,” Elyssa said.
“To see Lebanese flags everywhere in Doha is an amazing feeling. We feel like we are home,” Ria said.
And while Beirut tries to rise from the ruins, and while it waits to heal from its wounds, everyone wonders: what have we done to Beirut? How did we transform this vibrant city to a pile of rubble?
“We, the young people, strive to increase our knowledge and awareness so as to be able to contribute to solving the challenges of our society. And because we believe in our capabilities and have big dreams, we will build Beirut again and restore our beautiful dream,” Elyssa said.
