'Today, more than ever, we are with you': Lebanese diaspora mobilises in France

The Lebanese diaspora in France is mobilising to help their compatriots in Lebanon, amidst the ongoing war in the Middle East. The war has led to massive population displacement and the Lebanese diaspora, which is larger than the country's population, is playing a crucial role in providing humanitarian aid. In Puteaux, a suburb near Paris, a team of volunteers from the Lebanese Experts Forum is sorting through donations, including essential food items and medicines. The organisation, which has over 22,000 members, mainly business leaders from the diaspora, is coordinating collections from several NGOs and has already sent a consignment to Lebanon.

The team is led by Nada Chehab, the organisation's president, who notes that they usually work on economic issues and employment but have rolled up their sleeves to help in this crisis. Since the start of the war, the organisation has been working tirelessly to coordinate collections and send aid to those in need. The charity has experience in this sort of collection, having done similar humanitarian operations during the Covid-19 pandemic and the 2020 explosion at the port of Beirut.

The volunteers are driven by a sense of solidarity and a desire to help their fellow Lebanese. Artemis Kairouz, a tourism professional, notes that their concern is not just for the Lebanese people in Lebanon but also for those in the diaspora who are affected by the war. Mona, another volunteer, points out that their message, "Today, more than ever, we are with you," is a reflection of their commitment to helping those in need.

The aid is expected to arrive in Beirut by boat in about a fortnight, bringing much-needed relief to those affected by the war.