In the Shadow of Beirut

So many people have been reaching out asking how families from In the Shadow of Beirut have been doing. The honest answer is not good. Worse than in the film. So many of you have already donated.

We have around 2,700 euro in the ShareDoc account from generous donations. We can't thank you enough. I've begun to reach out to the families starting conversations that there will be some money coming their way from donations from people who have seen the film. In all my conversations, I get the utmost of honesty and openness. As has always been the case.

Abu Turkey and Rabia - Saarea's parents

The Lebanese economy is terrible. But Rabia said she would value our advice of how any donations could be used. If they could open a business and live off that, that would be good. But she said it wouldn't work now with the economy. So maybe it's a case of giving them the money in a way they are happy with. Work-wise, her sons had been working informally, when they could find work. But all this has stopped for months now with Israeli bombing of the country. Their grandson Ali, who appears at the end of the film, tragically died before Christmas last year at the age of 4. He fell into a water tank on the roof. So the family, especially Rabia, who already lost her daughter, has been through another tough period of mourning.

Abu Ahmad, his mother and brothers

They are still in the same apartment that they moved to after leaving Shatila. He had been working in a coffee stall near the apartment they moved to. Late last year, his mother got an electric shock and fell 2 meters, breaking her shoulder, some ribs and badly banging her head. While her bones have mostly healed, she has not recuperated well with minimal shoulder mobility. She is still dizzy and disoriented and after months of not being able to work is now back again cleaning in a hotel Abu Ahmad has had to take hard work lifting construction materials. Some good news is that he is going to a special night class where he is learning how to read and write. She has never ever asked me for anything, any help, nothing, ever. But about two months ago, she asked me if I knew any way or knew anyone who might help them leave Lebanon. Her eldest son wants to take a boat to Turkey. It's a dangerous journey. She doesn't want him to go but she understands why. Ideally she wants to move somewhere that she and her kids can have a better life and be together. Abu Ahmad had severe PTSD with the recent Israeli bombing of Beirut. The last time he was bombed was when he was in school in Syria and they were attacked by warplanes.

Ayman, Ikram, Sanaa and family

Ayman allowed Sanaa to work outside the house. She found work at a small shop selling cheap trinkets (like a dollar store). There she got to know another worker whom she liked. Ayman met the young man and liked him. They got engaged. All seems to be going well. In the past 12 months, Ayman's back has been giving him severe pain but he continues to work repairing mopeds in Sabra with the help of his son Ali. He can't carry anything. He can't stand up straight. He sits on the ground of the repair shop. And he tells Ali what to do. Hard, physical work where he tries to earn the bare minimum each day to put some type of food on the table. He needs a back operation and has the X-rays to show. Hanan, Fatmay and Hamudi are all in a local school. The stress on the family is immense.

Aboodi and family

In the dire economy of Lebanon where the currency is now valued at less than 2% of what it was a few years ago, Aboodi has returned to dealing. It's the only way he feels he can provide for his family. Families he knows have been losing their sons in the violence on the Southern border with Israel and in aerial bombings on Beirut. Aboodi is going hard on the drugs himself so I'm talking as well to his mother and sister so a collective family decision can be made. Haven't mentioned any money to him. If he reads this, I love you brother. We have your back.

Abu Arab - fruit stall owner and man who gave Abu Ahmad work

Abu Arab's concrete ceiling collapsed on their living room one night. The steel rebars had corroded and the cement came apart and fell in on them. No one was injured but the house became unlivable. They had to move to another home. The economy is weighing on him and his wider family. As in the current violence in Gaza (he is a Palestinian refugee).Hard to sugar coat any of this.

Any offer of help with anything, a donation will all go directly to whoever you choose on the QR code below or to the families to be divided equally.

A thousands thanks from me and from the heroes in the film,

Stephen Gerard Kell