I am Beirut

  • Beirut is a city that leaves an indelible impression on one’s life – its endless contradictions, pride, love of freedom and refusal to surrender. I am proud to be a daughter of this enchanted metropolis. I am Beirut …
  • With the port engulfed in flames, I was somehow transported back; to the cafes and corners, the streets and squares – to Beirut in all its glory and complexity.
  • Beirut is beauty. Sublime, elegant, proud; its nights are filled with poetry, literature, music and joie de vivre.
  • Beirut’s strength lies in its youth. They transcend its wounds and weaknesses; they can shake off the debris of its past.
  • Beirut is in triage, supported by its devoted sons and daughters around the world. Lebanese from across the globe are sending money, as well as medical and food supplies, to their fellow citizens in the “Homeland of the Stars”.
  • Within 24 hours, Saudi and Emirati aircraft were transporting hundreds of tons of medical and food aid to Beirut. Our friends reacted both with speed and kindness, carrying with them a message of sympathy for our city.
  • In the blink of an eye, 640 of Beirut’s historic buildings were heavily damaged or destroyed, forever changing its identity. That day, in just minutes, our queen of the Levant lost a jewel from her crown.
  • One thing Beirut teaches us is to have hope. With the support of UNESCO and more than 27 other cultural bodies from around the world, we may yet preserve this city’s unique architectural heritage and urban identity.