Volunteers Strive to Meet Demand Amid Beirut Crisis

A Beirut soup kitchen, Nation Station, founded by Josephine Abu Abdo, is serving 700 meals daily to displaced people escaping Israeli strikes. The volunteers, who began by helping victims of the 2020 Beirut explosion, have increased food production despite funding challenges. Donations are keeping them afloat temporarily.

In Beirut, a dedicated group of volunteers at Nation Station soup kitchen is racing to meet the food needs of displaced people fleeing Israeli strikes. The kitchen, founded by chef Josephine Abu Abdo, is currently serving 700 meals daily but is struggling to keep up with increasing demand.

Established to assist victims of the 2020 Beirut port explosion, Nation Station has expanded from a team of five to one hundred volunteers. They serve traditional Lebanese dishes like stuffed zucchini and vegetable soup. As Israeli strikes intensified, 40,000 people took shelter in just days, prompting the kitchen to ramp up food production without immediate funding.

Donations began pouring in after initial days of operating on small savings, providing short-term relief. The conflict has led to over 600 deaths in Lebanon and mass displacement on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border. Volunteers like May Ayash express a poignant mix of determination and resignation as they continue their efforts.

(With inputs from agencies.)