There isn’t a specific starting point. October 8 of last year. Attacks in Beirut in January, or again in April. September 17 and 18 when thousands injured by exploding pagers and walkie talkies, and at least 37 dead. September 27, the most intense bombing in Beirut that shook our homes and office. 1 October when the land invasion started…
1.2 million people have been displaced. 250,000 have fled to Syria. Roughly 2,000 killed. Thousands more injured. Attacks continue to destroy the south and east of the country. Entire villages destroyed. Major strikes in Beirut. Embassies evacuating their citizens. No end in sight, and hard to describe the horrors and suffering.
Animals Lebanon has been helping animals affected by war for a year now, and the situation continues to get worse. This also affects all of us. We are happy to help animals but wish none of this existed. We are devastated, scared, tired, nervous, confused, anxious.
Staff and volunteers have families or homes in areas being bombed and had to flee. Some sleep at our office, some at my home, some we were able to arrange hotel room for. At my home and at Animals Lebanon office we can hear the bombing, and sometimes feel it. There is a constant buzzing of drones high in the sky. We all know innocent people who were injured or killed.
I want to thank everyone who has given tirelessly to save animals. Staff and volunteers who have gone above and beyond and taken significant risk. Our members and supporters who continue to give. Animal organizations around the world that support and motivation.
In the last week we have been going to the most affected areas of Beirut and the south to rescue pets of people who had to flee.
More than 100 pets are now back with their families. Every morning we go out to rescue animals, in the afternoon when we get back they are reunited with their families, in the evening we plan the next day. We give out holding cage and food to people who fled with their pets. We temporarily care for pets of families that are now homeless. We have helped hundreds of people fly out of the country with their pets. We give food to homeless animals in areas that are now abandoned.
We are also desperately trying to find flights for wild animals we rescued from the illegal trade. Sara, a lion cub, to a sanctuary in South Africa. Six baboons to a sanctuary in the UK. Four lions, two bears, a tiger and jaguar to a sanctuary in the US.
For the good of everyone and the animals we hope this ends soon.
Thank you all for your support. You make it possible to help animals in this terrible situation.
For the animals,
Maggie Shaarawi
Animals Lebanon