Beirut: Nour, injured in the explosions, received support from HI's teams

Many of Beirut’s inhabitants have been affected by the explosions that ripped through the city’s port on 4th August. Nour Khalaf, 33, has chronic lower back pain, aggravated by a fall she suffered in in the second explosion.

Nour Khalaf, 33, suffers from chronic lower back pain, which has grown worse since she fell in the second explosion. | ©Tom Nicholson / HI

Humanity & Inclusion (HI)’s teams have been reaching out to the residents of two Beirut neighbourhoods - Karantina and Basta - to identify people with injuries and those who need help to overcome their ordeal.

Nour Khalaf lives in a neighbourhood near the port of Beirut with her family. She was working at home when she felt the first explosion. She rushed to another room to check on her son when, moments later, a second explosion shook the house and she was hit by falling objects.

HI assistance

HI’s teams met up with Nour to find out more about what had happened to her and provide her with emergency equipment and psychological first aid to help her recover from her ordeal.

After her fall, she suffered pains throughout her body, especially in her back, adding to her existing chronic pain that makes it difficult for her to perform routine tasks and prevents her from sleeping.

Overcoming physical and psychological pain

HI’s physiotherapy team assessed her state of health and provided Nour with a lumbar support belt. She was also given an exercise programme to do at home to relieve her pain and improve her quality of life along with advice on how to improve her standing position.

"I'm so grateful for HI’s support. You were the first to come and help relieve my physical and mental pain.”

Nour says.

HI in Lebanon

HI has been working in Lebanon since 1992. HI teams provide assistance to the most vulnerable individuals and people with disabilities and help ensure that they are included in the life of their community . the teams also implements demining projects in the north of the country where people’s lives are still at risk from explosive devices left over from the 15-year civil war, which ended in 1990.

Date published: 11/09/20