REPORTAGE
Beirut, the next day. The urgency and the astonishment dominate among the inhabitants after the violent explosions which devastated the downtown area of the Lebanese capital. In addition to the 137 dead and thousands injured, 300,000 residents of the Lebanese capital lost their homes in the explosion. Europe 1 met Lebanese families south of the port who are trying to organize themselves to eat and clean up the rubble.
>> READ ALSO - Explosions in Lebanon: after the "astonishment" will come the time for "change"
"All the doors, all the windows, everything is destroyed, we no longer have a roof… it's a great disaster," notes Nour, 26, annoyed. Impossible to return home, the explosion devastated everything. She contemplates the rubble that crushes the cars. Dust still flies in the air. There is no electricity so the residents light up with a flashlight. The ground glistens from the pieces of glass from the windows and windshields.
>> Find all Raphaëlle Duchemin's shows in replay and podcast here
Street food stalls for families
In order to help the Lebanese, who are now homeless, a network of volunteers has set up food stalls in the street. “It's cooked by Lebanese mothers!” Says Nali, who is shopping around for provisions. "Fruits, vegetables, rice cakes… In all, we have over 100,000 bottles of water and we have enough food to help 30,000 families."
>> READ ALSO - In Beirut, saturated hospitals: "That night alone was worse than thirty years of war"
To avoid theft, residents have decided to stay outside their homes. If some dislodged try to organize, others throw in the towel. "We are in the process of removing everything that can be sold," says Marc. "The kitchen, the chairs, the tables, the speakers, really everything, even the screws! We are trying to reduce our debts." Franco-Lebanese, he decided to do everything to return to France, even if it means leaving his entire Lebanese life behind.