Lebanon (MNN) — Conditions are so bad in Lebanon right now that some parents decide death is better than life for their newborns.
Pierre Houssney, Executive Director of Horizons International, says people recently found a newborn baby in trash bins near their ministry centers. “Unfortunately, this is becoming more common in Lebanon as people are sinking into destitution,” Houssney says.
(Photo courtesy of PoliticalPen via Horizons International)
“The umbilical cord was torn off, and a beautiful baby girl was left in a plastic bag in a dumpster.”
Thankfully, the same desperation plaguing Lebanon led to the little girl’s rescue. “As soon as new trash bags come, a lot of people jump on them. Desperate people look through the trash for anything valuable or edible. They found the baby quickly,” Houssney says.
A Christian couple wants to adopt the baby, but courts have gridlocked the process. Horizons is raising funds to help with medical costs, as well as the adoption process. You can send a gift here through Horizons’ Facebook fundraiser.
Why are things so bad in Lebanon?
Lebanon’s 2019 protests began a series of back-to-back crises. Today, daily life essentials remain out of reach for most Lebanese. See our full Lebanon coverage here.
“The country is tearing apart at the seams. Wave after wave of destitution and collapse are hitting society, and people are getting more and more desperate,” Houssney says.
Earlier this week, the United States issued another cash infusion to keep Lebanon’s army afloat. Additionally, Jordan hosted a discussion about easing Lebanon’s electricity crisis.
“Last week, the municipal water pumps stopped working because they don’t have electricity. That affects the agricultural industry because they can’t pump water to irrigate crops,” Houssney says.
“Fruit trees that had been invested in for 20 years are now being chopped up as firewood.”
Western nations are ready and willing to help Lebanon, but that intervention hinges on meaningful government reform – something caretaker officials aren’t willing to pursue. Send relief aid and Gospel hope through Horizons International here.
Volunteers prepare food aid for delivery.
(Photo courtesy of Horizons International)
“[Lebanese are] in desperate need right now of aid of any kind – development work, infrastructure – and we’re waiting for Western countries to intervene and help,” Houssney says.
“In the meantime, organizations like Horizons are doing what we can to put a Band-Aid on arterial bleeding.”
Pray the Lord will bring something good from Lebanon’s ongoing tragedy.
“[Pray] the Lord would bring down a judgment against the people causing all this destruction, but then also that the Lord would protect His flock and bring His children that don’t know Him, into the Church at this turbulent time,” Houssney requests.
Header image is a representative stock photo courtesy of hp Koch/Unsplash.
