Once known as the ‘Paris of the Middle East’, Beirut is the capital city of Lebanon, a small country on the Mediterranean coast, west of Syria. It is one of the oldest cities in the world, having been inhabited for more than 5,000 years.
From 1975 to 1990, Beirut, along with the rest of Lebanon, was devastated by civil war. In 2006, Lebanese civil infrastructure was severely damaged, about 1,200 to 1,300 people were killed, and approximately a million Lebanese were displaced as a result of the conflict with Israel. In recent years, the country has faced more crises, from economic devastation and hunger to the COVID-19 pandemic. It has also taken in a considerable number of refugees fleeing the conflict in Syria, adding to the financial strain on the country.
Then, on the 4th August 2020, Beirut suffered a horrific explosion which decimated the downtown area of the city. A warehouse containing ammonium nitrate caught fire and subsequently exploded, killing over 200 people and injuring thousands more.
Beirut is unique in that it is a city divided. It has Sunni Muslims, Shia Muslims and Christians, all living in different areas and not mixing. There are only a handful of cities like this worldwide.
Many people are thinking or dreaming of leaving Lebanon because of the bad economic and political situation. With one refugee for every four nationals, Lebanon has the highest number of refugees per capita in the world. Up to 300,000 people are now displaced in Beirut after the blast in August.
Most seekers are not in churches because most churches are not welcoming to believers from a Muslim background. Beirut is very segregated, and Muslims and Christians do not really mix. Seekers and believers need established groups and churches that they can join.
From 1975 to 1990, Beirut, along with the rest of Lebanon, was devastated by civil war. In 2006, Lebanese civil infrastructure was severely damaged, about 1,200 to 1,300 people were killed, and approximately a million Lebanese were displaced as a result of the conflict with Israel. In recent years, the country has faced more crises, from economic devastation and hunger to the COVID-19 pandemic. It has also taken in a considerable number of refugees fleeing the conflict in Syria, adding to the financial strain on the country.
Then, on the 4th August 2020, Beirut suffered a horrific explosion which decimated the downtown area of the city. A warehouse containing ammonium nitrate caught fire and subsequently exploded, killing over 200 people and injuring thousands more.
Beirut is unique in that it is a city divided. It has Sunni Muslims, Shia Muslims and Christians, all living in different areas and not mixing. There are only a handful of cities like this worldwide.
Many people are thinking or dreaming of leaving Lebanon because of the bad economic and political situation. With one refugee for every four nationals, Lebanon has the highest number of refugees per capita in the world. Up to 300,000 people are now displaced in Beirut after the blast in August.
Most seekers are not in churches because most churches are not welcoming to believers from a Muslim background. Beirut is very segregated, and Muslims and Christians do not really mix. Seekers and believers need established groups and churches that they can join.
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About Beirut
Population: 2.2 million
Religions: Muslim (Shia, Sunni, Alawi, Druze) and Christian (including Maronite Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Melkite Catholic, Protestant Evangelical, Armenian Orthodox)
Ethnic groups: Arab (95%), Armenian (4%), other (1%)
Geographical size: 26 m² / 67 km²
Location: On a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon’s Mediterranean coast
Key historical events: Destroyed by Diodotus Tryphon, 140 BC. Conquered by Romans, 64 BC. Ravaged by earthquake, AD 551. Conquered by Muslims, AD 635. Syrian Protestant College, now American University of Beirut, established 1866. Became capital of (now independent) Lebanon, 1943. Lebanese Civil War, 1975-1990. Prime Minister Rafic Hariri assassinated in 2005, followed by the Cedar Revolution, which led to withdrawal of 14,000 Syrian soldiers.
Population: 2.2 million
Religions: Muslim (Shia, Sunni, Alawi, Druze) and Christian (including Maronite Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Melkite Catholic, Protestant Evangelical, Armenian Orthodox)
Ethnic groups: Arab (95%), Armenian (4%), other (1%)
Geographical size: 26 m² / 67 km²
Location: On a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon’s Mediterranean coast
Key historical events: Destroyed by Diodotus Tryphon, 140 BC. Conquered by Romans, 64 BC. Ravaged by earthquake, AD 551. Conquered by Muslims, AD 635. Syrian Protestant College, now American University of Beirut, established 1866. Became capital of (now independent) Lebanon, 1943. Lebanese Civil War, 1975-1990. Prime Minister Rafic Hariri assassinated in 2005, followed by the Cedar Revolution, which led to withdrawal of 14,000 Syrian soldiers.