"It's a very modest help, our trip is just a drop of water," insists Nathalie Pitrou, almost embarrassed. The Hauts-de-Seine departmental councilor (UDI) returned on Saturday evening from a 48-hour humanitarian trip to Beirut, the capital of Lebanon severely damaged by an accidental double explosion on August 4.
"But if small streams can fill large rivers ..." hopes the deputy mayor of Issy-les-Moulineaux, who supervised a first convoy of the Grand Paris Seine Ouest (GPSO) territory, along with Rita Kapro, manager from the Vanves Liban Solidarity Committee, Walid Feghali, municipal councilor of Chaville and Joumana Selfani, municipal councilor of Boulogne-Billancourt.
“The shipping company CMA-GSM will this week send a whole boat of donations from all over France, including 3.5 tonnes of GPSO. In the meantime, we left last week to deliver first emergency aid, ensure that it was properly distributed, assess needs and find the right contacts on site, ”explains Nathalie Pitrou.
The four Altoséquanais transported 70,000 masks donated by GPSO and the city of Boulogne-Billancourt, as well as around 400 kg of medicines and basic necessities for babies and young children affected. “There is a strong mobilization from everywhere. We have therefore decided to target our aid, by focusing it first on children, ”explains the departmental counselor.
"There is a lot of recognition"
“When we bring 25 cans of powdered milk to a place where 200 families are waiting for donations, we say to ourselves that we are really far from the mark, but people thank us. There is a lot of recognition. The Lebanese are touched that we are making the trip to bring them all these things. It's overwhelming, ”says Nathalie Pitrou, who has been traveling regularly to Lebanon for the past thirty years.
" It's impressive. It's worse than what I saw when I first went to Lebanon, after the war [ Editor's note: in the 90s ]. During the explosion, people believed it was a huge earthquake. It was traumatic for them. "
The territory of southern Hauts-de-Seine, strongly mobilized around its many Franco-Lebanese associations, has also prioritized essential drugs. "Compresses, disinfectants, paracetamol ... Anything that can help clean wounds", cites Nathalie Pitrou as an example, recalling the heavy price paid by hospitals in Beirut. Some have been destroyed. The others, "saturated", must now deal with the resurgence of Covid-19.
Masks, this "precious commodity"
The Hauts-de-Seine masks were therefore welcomed as “a precious commodity”. “No one had thought about it, actually. The priority for the victims is to find food and shelter. Some wear masks for four or five days, which turn yellow with dust… ”
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Like other donations, the masks were distributed in hospitals, dispensaries, associations and even directly in certain streets of the most affected neighborhoods (Achrafieh, Gemmayzé…). Supported in France by the elected representatives of the territory, Mgr Nasser Gemayel, the bishop of the Maronites of France, the “Solidarité France Liban” collective and Air France, the four elected officials from the Ile-de-France region found other relays on the spot within the embassy. de France, Unicef, Lions Clubs, Zahle France and other structures.
So many guarantees given for the next collections. Barely returned from her "marathon", Nathalie Pitrou increased contacts this Sunday to prepare other humanitarian convoys. “Afterwards, we will have to think about rebuilding. The Lebanese need materials, tools… They lack everything, ”she says to encourage future donations.
Donation centers. In Boulogne-Billancourt, donations are received at the town hall, which also has an urn available for the benefit of Unicef. In Issy-les-Moulineaux, at the Palais des Sports Robert-Charpentier, Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. until September 17. In Vanves, collection in the city's supermarkets, on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until August 30. More information on the websites of these cities.