The Foundation has collaborated in the organisation of the webinar: “LEBANON ONE YEAR AFTER THE GREAT EXPLOSION. BACKGROUND, CHALLENGES, PERSPECTIVES” which took place today morning.
This webinar has featured exceptional guests whose testimonies have provided a better understanding of the issues and challenges faced in this country moving forward.
The webinar coincided with the anniversary of the big explosion that occurred on 4 August 2020 in the port of Beirut, which caused severe damage to the area and destroyed some of Beirut’s historic and traditional neighbourhoods.
Lebanon is currently suffering from a major structural crisis both at the institutional level, due to corruption, which has led to a breakdown in the Lebanese people’s trust in their leaders, and a deep economic crisis, all of which is exacerbated by the current post-pandemic situation and health crisis.
In his traditional Easter message, Pope Francis has already launched an appeal for support for Lebanon and the Lebanese people. On 1 July, on the occasion of the ecumenical meeting of the Eastern Patriarchs at the Vatican, the Holy Father reminded the international community of its duty to help a nation in danger, and asked it to come to the aid of Lebanon.
The seminar counted with these experts:
- Malek El Khoury, Entrepreneur, active in training young people in citizenship.
- Nassib Ghobril, Chief Economist, Byblos Bank Group.
- Pierre Issa, Co-founder and former CEO of the NGO Arcenciel.
- Prof. Tarek Mitri, Academic, former minister and former UN Special Representative.
Our guests answered questions from the participants, including journalists.
The webinar was moderated by Jumana Trad, President of the Social Promotion Foundation and President of the Executive Committee of the Centre for Middle East Studies (CEMO).
This event was organised by the Information and Communication Service of Opus Dei in Switzerland, with the collaboration of the Social Promotion Foundation.