Back to building business after the Beirut blast

Lena’s* story

Lena is a married mother of three children. She and her family live in Mar Mikhael – a lively, densely-populated neighbourhood very close to the port. Because of its proximity to the storage building at the centre of the explosion, it was one of the areas that bore the brunt of the blast. Sadly, many of the residents in the area have struggled to afford repairs to their homes.

Lena’s family was one of those whose homes were badly damaged. This was a double blow for Lena, who used her home as a base for her small business making and selling homemade goods such as pickles, makdous (cured eggplants), olives, za’atar (a fragrant mix of herbs and spices), dried yoghurt and all sorts of jams. She also used to prepare home-cooked meals for some of her customers.

When the blast hit, it destroyed her business. Her home was no longer a safe environment to work in and almost nothing was left of her supplies. What made the situation even more desperate for Lena’s family is that her husband has cancer and isn’t able to work to help support the family.

Fortunately, Lena received some help through Tearfund’s local partner organisation. Working together with local churches, they provided her with the supplies she needed to restart her business once her house had been repaired and they also helped her access some new customers.

Lena says she is grateful for what [Tearfund’s local partner] has done as now she has a wider clientele.

*Name has been changed to protect identity.