Local Lebanese reeling from blast

Members of the GTA’s Lebanese community fear for their countrymen in Beirut after Tuesday’s massive explosion.

Mohamed Mokaham lives in Toronto but most of his family lives in Beirut.

“All my family are safe and sound. They suffered mostly shattered windows as they don’t live too close to the port. But things just go from bad to worse,” Mokaham said.

Beirut, which was engulfed in a civil war three decades ago, is reeling from an economic meltdown.

“We have had the economic collapse and the coronavirus, and now this. We have lived through war and tragedy and will live through this,” Mokaham said.

Assad Sounder, of the Lebanese Canadian Progressive Society, says his homeland is in crisis.

‘Not normal’

“This is not normal. This explosion was Hiroshima. All of my family lives there,” added Sounder. “Nobody knows how many people have died. My family lives 5 km from the port and I live here with my wife and children.

“I’m here and I see all the people dying and homes and buildings destroyed,” he said. “The people are so poor and now there is no food or places to live and no electricity. The government doesn’t look after the people and there is no medical.”

Well-known Lebanese philanthropist and Canadian businessman Mohamed Fakih took to social media to say he couldn’t sleep since the tragedy.

“My heart goes out to those who lost their lives

... and to their families. It’s so heartbreaking. Surely it is time for the people of Lebanon to have a better life,” said Fakih, whose family in Lebanon is safe.