BEIRUT PORT EXPLOSION: SPREADING CULTURE FOR ALL IN THE FACE OF TRAGEDY

Lebanon was hit by tragedy once again on August 4, 2020, when more than 2,700 tons of ammonium nitrate caught fire at the Beirut port causing an explosion to rip through the capital at 6:08 pm. The three public libraries of the Municipality of Beirut managed by ASSABIL were severely damaged. Although the damage to the Monot Municipal library was minimal, the Bachoura and Geitawi Municipal libraries remained out of service until ASSABIL conducted an intensive rehabilitation project that lasted from August until November. ASSABIL was humbled by the quick and overwhelming support from organizations and individuals from across the world committed to the rebuilding of Beirut’s public libraries. ASSABIL took advantage of this support to rebuild and rehabilitate the public municipal libraries of Beirut to the best possible condition so as to be able to serve the public.

THANK YOU LETTERS TO ALL DONORS

The overwhelming support received from individuals and organizations across the world is the reason that ASSABIL was able to overcome the challenges and tragic events of 2020. This support also affirmed the importance of ASSABIL as a vital cultural institution in Beirut and re-ignited the passion of our team to carry on its mission to spread Culture for All – despite the challenging circumstances. Following the explosion in the Beirut port, ASSABIL announced its commitment to re-establish Beirut’s Municipal public libraries as spaces for meeting, for dialogue, for culture, for positive interaction, and for free access to knowledge. Bringing these public spaces to life has been ASSABIL’s mission for over 20 years. Our promise to provide Culture for All residents in Lebanon is a promise that, thanks to our supporters, we are able to keep.

Local, regional, and international organizations including:

• The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Beirut
• Sharjah World Capital Book 2019
• Fondation de France
• Goethe Institute-Lebanon
• COBIAC
• ABF (Association des Bibliothécaires de France)
• CILIP (Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals)
• DJELIYA Internationale
• A.I.I.L
• Alefb
• Book Aid International
• UAEBBY
• Neel Wa Furat, M. Salah Shebaro
• Lebanese Libraries Association
• Rotary Club of Saida
• Makhzoumi Foundation
• Amel

Individuals:

Lubna El Khalil, Andree Gaspard, Ghazwa El Amine, Rita Saed, Dana Ballout, Patricia Najib Rahmeh, Omar Traboulsi, Nay Ghanem Hourani, Joumana Ibrahim, Johan Mayer, Christine Fares, Belinda Ibrahim, Rayan Hamadeh, Fanny HOCDE, Micheline Brule, Veronique Schlumberger, Katharina Hinze, de Labretoigne, Antonis Schwarz, Alix Pincivy, Diane Shaw, Serena Chester, Ryuichiro Takahashi, Fadi Kerbaj, Charles Stewart, Jonathan A Feakins, Joanne Rechdan, Thomas Pizard, Promeyrat Sandrine, Rima Mokaiesh, Martin Dudek, Rawi Hage, Jestaz Laure, Haya Farah, Daniel Le Goff, Tarek Da., Celia I Jaber, Sara Giannini, Nicole Nadeau, Sofie Falkenbach, Meriam Vicken, Rym Zakaria, Fadi Kerbaj, Sarah Schtakleff, Lama Saleh, Marcia Lynx Qualey, Marina Tolchinsky, Jada Gardner, Sabine Schtakleff, Dr G.J. Roper, Genevieve Beaudry, Karim Seikaly, Nadia Muijrers, Zeina Ibrahim, Lorine Atoui, Farah assir, Scott Rogers, Meryl Haddad, Eliza J McLeod, Evan Lindbergh, May Khalife, Rachit Shah, Mary Choueiter, Tania El Khoury, Joseph Monardo, Talia Souki, Carleigh Oeth, Doan Nguyen, Peter Snowdon, Trevor Janega, Hassan kanaan, Titus Nouwens, Claude Habayeb, Charles Krasun, Raghiida jamil elrahbani, Ziad Habayeb, Danielle Chagnon, Marie, D. Martel, Henriette Minvielle, Ibrahim Zakhour, Jose Cortez, Marc Saliba, Talha Cicek, Michael Gluenz, Михаил Афанасьев, John Sinclair, Michelle Warde, Jeveux Pasledonner, Kaitlyn Majesky, Ford McDonald, Mariem kastally, Sally Zacharias, Luisa Elena Mengoni, Odile DUPONT, Tomasz Szepinski, Lydia Wright, Adi Keinan-Schoonbaert, Nabil Estefan, Jad Hachem, David Hirsch, Ellen Forsyth, Nagham Duhaini, Carola Wagner, Robin Kear, Elias Nasr, Alex Winder, Rejean Savard, Robert Chlala, Milena Dobreva, Saif A.H. AlJabri, Haifa Boutros, Maia Tabet, Dima A. Boulad, Andree de Bustros.

Many thanks to ASSABIL sponsors:

The Municipality of Beirut, Governor of Beirut, Arab Fund for Arts and Culture – AFAC, Culture Resource, Taawon, Institut Français du Liban, Goethe Institute-Lebanon, GIZ, Secours Catholique, Prince Claus Fund.