By In Trieste
It has been just a little over two weeks since two explosions shook the port of the city of Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. We interviewed a local Lebanese expat who answered some of our pressing questions.
In Trieste: How long have you lived in Trieste? What do you do here?
Hassan: I have been living in Trieste for a little over two years. I moved here in June 2018 for a job opportunity in auditing.
In Trieste: How did you feel when you found out about the explosions in your hometown?
Hassan: Wow, unreal! Having family and friends in Beirut, I started calling and writing to check if everyone was safe. Fortunately they were all unharmed. However, being in a different country amplified the sense of worry since I couldn’t be close to my family, nor help the people who were injured, or whose businesses were destroyed.
In Trieste: How did the world Lebanese community react to the news?
Hassan: Well, there was of course a lot of anger at the corruption in Lebanon that has led to such a tragedy. Many Lebanese living in the country went to Beirut to help the injured and give a hand to clear up the wreckage. While the Lebanese community abroad provided financial donations that were necessary especially because the catastrophe took place while the country was already in a deep financial crisis, since October 2019, and in lockdown due to Covid-19.
In Trieste: What message would you like to send the people of Trieste?
Hassan: I am of course very thankful for the community, since I received a lot of messages when the story was all over the news.
