Reference :
V-P-LB-E-01413
Date :
02/12/2014
Caption :
Tripoli, Bab al-Tabbaneh. Kitchens run by and for the community project. Samar is a beneficiary of the project.
Confidentiality level :
public
Publication restrictions :
publication without restrictions
Description :
News release on ICRC website, 11.02.2015: “Lebanon: Strengthening the resilience of communities affected by violence. Tripoli, Lebanon's second largest city, has been the scene of recurrent outbursts of armed violence between the marginalized communities of the Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen neighbourhoods. Since November 2014, the ICRC has launched several projects to help both communities to recover from long-standing cycles of poverty and violence and regain their dignity. Many residents of the densely populated districts of Jabal Mohsen and Bab al-Tabanneh were trapped in poverty even before the Syrian conflict spilled over into Lebanon, thus further exacerbating tensions in the course of 2014 and January 2015. Many families are struggling to make ends meet. This stress adds to the pain caused by the loss of loved ones through violent clashes and it takes its toll on both their mental and physical wellbeing and their health. As Jamila Hammami, the delegate heading the ICRC team in Tripoli, explains, "The social marginalization in these neighbourhoods is poignant. These people have been exposed to armed violence on their doorstep for decades and there is a great sense of powerlessness, resignation and mistrust. It is our neutrality and impartiality that allows us to work in such a polarized environment today."In a bid to reduce the impact of the armed violence, the ICRC has launched several projects to help the most vulnerable members of both communities to rebuild their lives.
Kitchens run by and for the community
In close cooperation with the Lebanese Red Cross (LRC) and two local NGOs, Ruwad in Bab al-Tabanneh and Dar El Hikma in Jabal Mohsen, the ICRC has embarked on a project enabling women and men to earn a living by supplying meals to the most vulnerable families in both areas. A team of 40 women are cooking hot meals that are delivered every day to the homes of 110 vulnerable households, or over 500 people."We are focusing our efforts on the most vulnerable and those who are most exposed to violence," explains Sarah Saliba, the ICRC officer overseeing the project. "The cooks receive a salary and are trained by chefs. Other families receive one hot meal a day, which means that they can spend some money on urgent needs other than food. In this way, we hope to strengthen their resilience. "With seven children and a disabled husband to take care of, Hannah Awwad, a breast cancer patient, is no stranger to agony."Being able to work and provide for my family has brought me a little more peace of mind, as I don't have to worry anymore about what I should buy first with the little money I make. I have more breathing space. At the same time, I feel useful, to both my family and the entire community. It's a good feeling. I hope that one day I will be able to set up my own modest business, working as a chef." [...]."
Original material :
digital
Resolution :
2872x4308
Orientation :
portrait
Colour/B&W :
colour
