Back to lockdown!

An empty street in Jounieh, 20 Km north of Beirut

Due to the massive work of cleaning, sheltering, helping and rebuilding after the Beirut port explosion that happened on August 4^th, unfortunately the covid19 cases skyrocketed. There are on average 500 new cases every day.  Therefore, the government decided  for a two weeks lockdown for the following reasons:

• The explosion destroyed three major hospitals and patients were relocated in different hospitals. This leaves us with less hospital rooms/beds to treat covid19 cases. In addition, hospitals are already crowded with injured people and ill people. A big hospital that was slightly destroyed had to treat 700 injured people the day of the explosion!
• The covid19 cases are spread out; the government couldn’t isolate some affected regions. However an exception was given to Beirut, precisely to the area of the blast, so work can still go on.
• My personal opinion is that the government doesn’t want more protests down the streets.

With that being said, here we are again in quarantine. Although I was out and about on some occasions but following all restrictions of the covid19, the idea of being in lockdown again is hard to swallow. I am spending my time between working out, working online, some gardening and nature photography. I still visit some close friends.

2020 is definitely the year of change. Whoever is still clinging to the previous normal life, will find it hard to cope with what was referred to as “the new normal”, a post I wrote a while ago that you can check it here: The new normal

Beirut, the aftermath V

Two weeks passed by since the explosion took place. Thankfully, we received a lot of help from all over the world. Many experts and specialists are still here inspecting, helping, working with locals. Beirut narrow streets are over crowded.

Below some more pictures of the aftermath.

Photography by @dvjkaa

Can’t get enough of the port!

This is what used to be a building of fancy apartments. 

A traditional Lebanese house turned into a restaurant. These 100 years old buildings are threatened of collapsing. 

On a lighter note, the flower eye man amidst a protest in downtown Beirut. 

Beirut, the aftermath IV

Broken window glasses!

What can I say about the general feeling? It is a mix of entangled feelings that words can’t sum up: despair, depression, sadness, fear, anxiety, frustration… Sometimes words are useless.

This explosion is beyond any war. As war people ourselves, we know that any war takes time to destroy a city. Meanwhile, people escape or know what to do because we are used to deal with troubles. However, this explosion destroyed half of the city in minutes. It swiped up lives, houses, families, memories and future plans.

Below are some photos of the broken Beirut.

Photography by @dvjkaa

Broken houses, broken lives!

I wonder what this was exactly before the explosion.

Probably, a toilet door in a pub.

It was a pub. 

View from above of destruction after debris were cleaned away. 

 

Beirut, the aftermath III

It is so very sad. Pictures below speak a thousand words.

Photography by @dvjkaa

Shattered flag, shattered city! 

Debris blocking roads. 

I love this sad turtle toy under the army sign.

broken windows. 

Beirut, the aftermath II

Emotional rollercoaster and mourning, confusion and despair, these are the feelings. The collateral damage is beyond words.

Photography by @dvjkaa

What;s left of the Beirut port and the grain silos. 

The cranes survived the blast!

Old building

Electricité du Liban

Beirut, the aftermath I

I don’t know the author of these beautiful words but what they say is very accurate. This is the Beirut experience!

Almost 300000 homeless families, 200 dead, many missing (we don’t know their exact number), 5000 injured. I tried to sum up the effect of the stories in the pictures below.

Photography by @dvjkaa

What’s left of the Beirut port and the grain containers, the silos. 

What used to be fancy buildings with a great view on the sea

Looks like a tomb with red flowers on it!

somewhere, old buildings endangered of collapsing

The Forum of Beirut where exhibitions and concerts used to be held

Beirut, before and after the explosion in pictures

I will dedicate this month’s posts to Beirut and it will be only photography. As I said it in my previous post, words are useless. This time they really are.

Thank you to all of you who sent me messages to ask about me. I can never be grateful enough. Please stay safe.

 Beirut Lebanon Port  before the explosion

The three explosions

Beirut port after the explosion

aerial photo of the aftermath