In light of the challenging times currently faced by Lebanon, a delegation from @catholicreliefservices met with Caritas Lebanon. The delegation included Sean Leo Callahan, General Director of CRS; Hani Mahdi, Middle East Regional Director; Cedric Choukeir, Lebanon Office Director; and Marione Jehane Abboud, Program Director.
The visit started with a meeting between the delegation and Father Michel Abboud, President of Caritas Lebanon, along with Dr. Peter Mahfouz, Emergency Coordinator at Caritas Lebanon. Following this, the delegation visited a collective shelter in Bekfaya, where they were welcomed by Mayor Nicole Gemayel, alongside the Director of the “Koullouna Aila” Association. The team gained insights into the living conditions of families residing in the official school shelter in Bekfaya, exploring various sections of the center and visiting the medical facility operated by the “Koullouna Aila” Association.
Then, the delegation visited Caritas Lebanon’s headquarters and met with Executive Director Gilbert Zouein and Program Director Mary Anshahodian. The visit concluded with a comprehensive presentation on Caritas Lebanon’s current activities and its response to the ongoing crisis. The delegation commended Caritas Lebanon for their pragmatic and humanitarian approach in addressing the crisis, appreciating their relentless efforts in serving the Lebanese community.