Survivors remember victims of Lebanon tragedy
Posted at 01/24/2013 12:40 PM | Updated as of 01/24/2013 12:40 PM
BEIRUT, Lebanon - One year after the tragedy, families and
friends still recall the pain left behind by the 27 people who died in
the building collapse in Fassouh, Ashrafieh.
"I can't tell you how I feel. I can't explain. I can't,” said survivor Gladys Naim. “When I came here [today], I felt like [how I felt] one year ago."
January 15, 2012, will forever be etched in Naim’s memory. Naim, who escaped from the building with her mom, lost her father and three brothers in the collapse. They also lost all their belongings.
“[We lost] everything—everything. We left home in pyjamas only,” she recalls.
Among those who died were three Filipinas: Juvelyn Concon, Lucy Bombales and Mary Ann Davatos. They were members of God’s Divine Love International Ministry, a church which held services on the third floor of the building. That Sunday, the congregation happened to attend at another church. But the three returned to the building in the evening.
“Thank God that I was saved that day. I left the building very early. It was like God really saved me!” said fellow Filipina and resident Maria Novicio.
On the first anniversary of the collapse, former residents and their families and friends reunited at the building site in a brief yet meaningful candle–lighting service.
Beirut Member of Parliament Nadim Gemayel also delivered a message of encouragement in Arabic.
“It's very important for us as Lebanese, and especially [for me] as MP, to remember what happened here in order not to make it happen again. And we are trying to do our best to revamp all kinds of buildings,” said Gemayel. “It was our duty this year to also be by [the survivors’] side for this one year anniversary.”
One lady fainted, unable to bear the painful memory. Yet another survivor, Elie Abdel Karim, found the grace to accept his 16-year-old daughter’s death.
“Her ambition was to be with God,” said Abdel Karim. “She wrote that her ambition was to be one of the best basketball players and to be one of the best dentists. But what was important for her was to be with God.”
Despite his loss, he thanked God for the life of his surviving children.
“My son, his head was broken. It was a disaster,” he recounted. “It's a miracle that my daughter and my son are living. I thank God.”
While the Higher Relief Council of Lebanon has awarded the promised $20,000 to some families of deceased who are Lebanese, it has not yet compensated the families of Concon, Bombales, Davatos and other migrants.
“There is some financial aid that has been given by the state. I'm not really aware of how much they have given them on what is still remaining, but I think there was a big shortage from the Lebanese state and we are here to call them again and again in order to bring [the victims] their full right at the earliest,” said Gemayel. “But unfortunately, as we know, the Lebanese state is very, very slow in action.”
“They just gave me $2,250 as a Lebanese,” said Rachid Yamak, a survivor whose wife is Filipina. “Next time I went there, the High Relief Center said, ‘You don't have anything from us anymore.’ That's all.”
"I can't tell you how I feel. I can't explain. I can't,” said survivor Gladys Naim. “When I came here [today], I felt like [how I felt] one year ago."
January 15, 2012, will forever be etched in Naim’s memory. Naim, who escaped from the building with her mom, lost her father and three brothers in the collapse. They also lost all their belongings.
“[We lost] everything—everything. We left home in pyjamas only,” she recalls.
Among those who died were three Filipinas: Juvelyn Concon, Lucy Bombales and Mary Ann Davatos. They were members of God’s Divine Love International Ministry, a church which held services on the third floor of the building. That Sunday, the congregation happened to attend at another church. But the three returned to the building in the evening.
“Thank God that I was saved that day. I left the building very early. It was like God really saved me!” said fellow Filipina and resident Maria Novicio.
On the first anniversary of the collapse, former residents and their families and friends reunited at the building site in a brief yet meaningful candle–lighting service.
Beirut Member of Parliament Nadim Gemayel also delivered a message of encouragement in Arabic.
“It's very important for us as Lebanese, and especially [for me] as MP, to remember what happened here in order not to make it happen again. And we are trying to do our best to revamp all kinds of buildings,” said Gemayel. “It was our duty this year to also be by [the survivors’] side for this one year anniversary.”
One lady fainted, unable to bear the painful memory. Yet another survivor, Elie Abdel Karim, found the grace to accept his 16-year-old daughter’s death.
“Her ambition was to be with God,” said Abdel Karim. “She wrote that her ambition was to be one of the best basketball players and to be one of the best dentists. But what was important for her was to be with God.”
Despite his loss, he thanked God for the life of his surviving children.
“My son, his head was broken. It was a disaster,” he recounted. “It's a miracle that my daughter and my son are living. I thank God.”
While the Higher Relief Council of Lebanon has awarded the promised $20,000 to some families of deceased who are Lebanese, it has not yet compensated the families of Concon, Bombales, Davatos and other migrants.
“There is some financial aid that has been given by the state. I'm not really aware of how much they have given them on what is still remaining, but I think there was a big shortage from the Lebanese state and we are here to call them again and again in order to bring [the victims] their full right at the earliest,” said Gemayel. “But unfortunately, as we know, the Lebanese state is very, very slow in action.”
“They just gave me $2,250 as a Lebanese,” said Rachid Yamak, a survivor whose wife is Filipina. “Next time I went there, the High Relief Center said, ‘You don't have anything from us anymore.’ That's all.”
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