São Paulo – The Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) is shipping an initial batch of 3 tons’ worth of medication, personal protective equipment, and powdered milk to help the Lebanese people affected by the blast in Beirut earlier this week, which killed over 150, injured 5,000 and left some 300,000 people homeless. The items were purchased by the ABCC using its own resources, as well as cash donations from an ABCC campaign with support from other associations and groups.
The goods will be shuttled into Lebanon alongside other donations next week by a federal government plane. The Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reached out to ABCC International Relations vice president Osmar Chohfi, and then it found a way to accommodate the items on the flight. The ABCC donation campaign will continue, and it is working on transportation solutions going forward. The work is underway with support and backing from the Embassy of Lebanon in Brazil.
ABCC president Rubens Hannun argues that the campaign and the donations arise from urgent humanitarian needs in Lebanon. He said the ABCC realized it must act as a facilitator for organizations and individuals across Brazil who were eager to help the Lebanese but had no means to do so. “It is our role to be facilitators to that end. Our stated mission includes connecting Arabs and Brazilians to bring about economic, social and cultural development,” says Hannun.
The ABCC donation campaign kicked off on Thursday (6). For the time being, only cash donations to a specified bank account are being accepted, but the organization will eventually start taking in goods as well. The ABCC is looking into other kinds of aid required. “The need will be there for a while, and that includes rebuilding,” says Hannun. The blast destroyed the Port of Beirut and much of the surrounding area, including houses, residential and office buildings, hotels and much more.
The newly launched ABCC Women’s Committee is doing active work donation campaign. The Lebanese-Brazilian Medical Association (AMLB) was first in partnering up with the initiative, and many other groups from across Brazil followed suit, either making donations or publicizing the campaign among acquaintances and associates.
The organizations involved include Associação Beneficente Síria and Esporte Clube Sírio, in São Paulo, and the Council of Arab Ambassadors in Brazil. In Rio Grande do Sul, The Friends of Lebanon and Brazil, the Lebanese Societies in Porto Alegre, Pelotas and Santa Maria, the Mount Lebanon Women’s Beneficent Society, the Maronite Church of Our Lady of Lebanon, the Brazil-Lebanon Chamber of Commerce, the businessman and consultant José Eduardo Buchabqui, state representative Tiago Simon, former governor Pedro Simon, and former minister Carlos Marun.
The Federation of Muslim Associations in Brazil (Fambras) is working in tandem with the ABCC so that each organization caters to different needs of the Lebanese people. The ABCC’s initiative joins several other efforts across Brazil to provide aid to Lebanon from the likes of Fambras, the AMLB, the Brazil-Lebanon Chamber of Commerce in São Paulo, the Federation of Industries of the State of São Paulo (Fiesp), the Kanoun Institute – Association of Jurists of Lebanese Origin, the Mount Lebanon Club, the Syrian-Lebanese Hospital, the Embassy of Lebanon in Brasília, the Christian Foundation of the Lebanese Diaspora (FCDL) and the federal government of Brazil.
The tragedy in Lebanon sent shockwaves across Brazil, due to the seriousness of the events, the scores of people affected, and the close ties that bind Brazil and Lebanon together. Out of all the Arabs and Arab descendants living in Brazil, 27% are of Lebanese background. Many Brazilian citizens are currently living in Lebanon as well. Expressions of support and sympathy are popping up everywhere in Brazil, from government, organizations, citizens, and businesses.
Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
