Abbas and his family, a Lebanese family affected by war

As many of you know, I, Geir Eikeland, have spent a considerable amount of time in Lebanon and in the city of Beirut over the past few years. My best friend in Beirut, Abbas Noureddine, and his family are now in a very difficult and untenable situation due to the horrific war. Abbas is a student at the American University, where he is working on his doctoral thesis in the field of dementia. Abbas comes from a loving family with very little money, living near the border with Israel, and his studies are only possible because of a scholarship.

Abbas’s entire family was evacuated from their hometown in the south and is now living together in two small rooms in Beirut. Two weeks ago, their home in his hometown was bombed, making it impossible to return. His brothers, who both worked in their hometown to help their parents, are now in Beirut and without jobs. His mother has health challenges, and his father has been retired for several years. His pension is 180 USD a month, due to the fall of their currency against USD, which is only 10% of what it costs to live in Beirut monthly.

There are now over 1 million Lebanese who have had to leave their homes. The housing situation is very difficult, the infrastructure is functioning even worse than before, and prices are skyrocketing due to the war. I am helping Abbas and his family and will continue to do so as long as needed. However, if anyone thinks they could also help Abbas and his family, I can guarantee that every USD will be useful and truly make a difference. Let us all hope that this war will end soon, and that everyone can wake up feeling safe in their own beds again.