" How's the family doing?" Everyone is well? Yes, thank God. On the terrace of the Lebanese Troika, a butcher-caterer in the 15th arrondissement of Paris, a few customers from the Lebanese diaspora hear from each other in the wake of the terrible explosions that devastated Beirut. The atmosphere is worried, the other customers feel concerned, they assure them of their support. Since 2001, Roger has been one of the 36,000 Lebanese living in France - according to a 2008 INSEE survey. This craftsman recounts the amazement, fear, calls to family and friends. “ We didn't know what had happened ,” he explains. We saw terrible images on social networks. "
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Smoke mushroom, devastated city center, injured residents: the images are in everyone's mind. They circulated on social networks and WhatsApp conversations. Youssef is the boss of the Lebanese Troika. In France since 1990, he returns every year to Lebanon, to Byblos north of Beirut, with his children to visit the family. “ We were shocked, terribly shocked,” he says on the steps of his establishment. My nephew was injured in the foot and in the leg. In his house, everything shattered, ”he says.
At the other end of the capital, Place de Beyrouth, Ahmed comes out of the Noura restaurant, a famous brand of Lebanese gastronomy. The businessman in the dark blue suit lives in Paris, but travels regularly to Beirut where he has business and family. On Tuesday, he learned of the collapse of his family's apartment building, located in Hamra, a downtown area not far from the port where the explosions took place. His sons live in Lebanon. They were not in the building at the time of the disaster, but some of his cousins were injured. " We are waiting for the news, " he comments without wanting to linger.
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Youssef runs the Lebanese Troika butcher's shop Stanislas Poyet / LE FIGARO
"This is proof of the nonchalance of our political class"
Where did the explosion come from? For the moment, no one knows, even if the trail of the accident is privileged. But among the Lebanese in Paris, sadness mingles with anger. " This is proof of the nonchalance of our totally corrupt political class ," indignant Charbel, 31, who hosts a hostel for Lebanese students in Paris. If it really is a warehouse that has been storing chemicals for 6 years, it is irresponsible. All are responsible, ”he insists.
In the adjoining small living room, Jimmy wants to be careful. “ Quickly, we heard a lot of theories, but so far we don't know ”. He prefers to focus on the humanitarian disaster, which he scrolls through the images on his Instagram feed.
Charbel and Jimmy, two young Lebanese living in Paris Stanislas Poyet / LE FIGARO
The disaster comes as Lebanon has been sinking for months into an economic and social crisis unprecedented since the war. " We have two million refugees on our soil, 51% of young people are unemployed, the Lebanese pound has fallen by 180% ," Charbel enumerates in the hall of the student hostel. “ Then there was the Covid ”.
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A few meters away, at Notre-Dame du Liban, Father Fadi Elmir could not restrain his emotion. For seven years that he has been in France, he has officiated at the Parisian Maronite Church. " What did we do to deserve this?" Why has our dear country been paying for so long? He breathes. Upset, he apologizes for losing his French.
The building is silent, only the footsteps of a couple of Iraqis come to light a candle for their " Lebanese brothers ", disturbing the slow flow of Father Elmir. At 54, he experienced civil war, the Syrian occupation of the 1990s, the clashes with Israel in the 2000s. Before embracing the priesthood, he himself fought. Today he no longer wants divisions. “ The Lebanese people are like the cedar on our flag ,” he explains. Its leaves are green, the color of hope. Over time, the Lebanese learned about hope. I believe that, from this catastrophe, more unity can be born within the Lebanese people ”. Faint hope for a country fractured by its confessional quarrels, corruption, and foreign interference.
Father Fadi Elmir has been parish priest of the Maronite parish in Paris for seven years Stanislas Poyet / LE FIGARO
