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The Nile Delta (Egypt) – October 2009
Among worldwide fear of imminent catastrophes due to climate change, analysts consider the Nile delta as a very vulnerable area. Scientists believe that its population will have to face in the future several problems especially related to sea level rise, salinization of water, demographic boom and the possible appearance of climate refugees. A riport from the Delta, a glance from the towns of Damietta, Balteem, Ras el-Bahr and Port Said, and an inner look at fishermen work in Lake Manzala.
29th Anniversary of Musa al-Sadr Disappearance / Baalbeck (Lebanon) – August 2007
On August 31, 2007, thousands of Shiite followers from the Amal and Hezbollah movement gathered in Baalbeck to commemorate the disappearance of former head of Amal movement Musa al-Sadr. Musa al-Sadr, along with two Lebanese companions, mysteriously disappeared in 1978 in a diplomatic mission in Libya. Its passport was found at Rome airport, but he supposedly never arrived in Italy. Libya rejected the accusation of being directly involved in the issue. The case is still under investigation by Lebanese authorities.
[Riportag on the anniversary (in Italian)]
Antoine Ghanem Funeral / Beirut (Lebanon) – September 2007
On September 19, 2007, MP Antoine Ghanem has been killed by a roadside bomb in the Beirut neighbourhood of Sin el Fill. Two days after, the funeral took place in the same area at Sacre Coeur Church. Antoine Ghanem belonged to the Christian Phalange party, and was member of the March 14th bloc.
[Riportag on Ghanem Funeral (in Italian)]
Ayazma Gecekondu & TOKI / Istanbul (Turkey) – March 2007
In December 2006, Turkish authorities started the evacuation and destruction of the Ayazma gecekondu, an area located in the North East of Istanbul, as part of the urban modernization project of the capital. The authorities attempted to relocate the inhabitants of the gecekondu, mainly of Kurdish origins, into new buildings constructed by the private-public construction company TOKI. However, not all the people from Ayazma could find an agreement with the local authorities. The ones who moved to the so-called towers, felt instead as betrayed by local politicians.
[Riportag on Ayazma/Toki (in Italian/Español)]
Italians UNIFIL Troops Landing in Tyre (Lebanon) – September 2006
In the aftermath of the July War between Hezbollah and Israel, Italian troops landed in Tyre (Lebanon) in compliance with the UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which included the enlargement of the UNIFIL peacekeeping troops in South Lebanon. Italy took the lead of the reinforced peacekeeping mission. Italian troops landed in Tyre at a locally well-known beach resort which has been during the war the base for journalists and international correspondents. The high security measures around the classy resort implicitly mocked mainstream media use of epic tones for the disembark.
[Riportag on the Italian Disembark in Tyre (in Italian)]
Al-Dahyya Area / Harb Tamouz / Beirut (Lebanon) – August 2006
Between July and August of 2006, the Southern area of Beirut was heavily bombed by the Israeli air forces. Al-Dahyya is known for being the headquarters of the Shiite Islamic movement Hezbollah. The massive one-month bombing left a panorama of rubble and destruction.
Jnoub Lubnan / Harb Tamouz / South Lebanon – August 2006
On July and August 2006, Hezbollah and Israel fought a tough one month war mainly on Lebanese soil. After one month, and just after the agreement over a cease-fire, the South of Lebanon appeared as a desolate and uninhabited area.
[Riportag on South Lebanon few days after the ceasefire (in Italian) and Harb Tamouz]
First Anniversary of Rafik Hariri Assassination / Beirut (Lebanon) – February 2006
On February 14, 2006, the Lebanese gathered in Martyrs’ Square to celebrate the first anniversary of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. The year before, Rafik Hariri was killed by a roadside bomb while passing through the Corniche stroll with its armoured cars. The bomb killed the former Prime Minister and around twenty persons more.
[Riportag on the first anniversary (in Italian)]
Khiam Prison…how it was / Lebanon – June 2005
Israeli withdrawal from South Lebanon in 2000, permitted to liberate the Lebanese people imprisoned in the infamous Khiam prison. The prison, after few years, was converted in an open air museum with the aim to remember the occupier’s atrocities on the local population. However, during the July war of 2006, Israel inexplicably bombed the location and destroyed the museum. After the war, a new museum was going to be organized at the same location.
Beirut Spring 2005 (…Summer and Autumn)
After former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri assassination on February 14, the Lebanese turned out in masses to condemn the assassination and asking for Syrian troops and intelligence apparatus out of Lebanon. The protest was soon labelled as the “Beirut Spring”, and officially Intifada al-Istiqlal. The historic momentum, that lead to Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon, was soon replaced by a summer and autumn of political assassinations and destabilizing bombs mainly within the Beirut area.
[Articles on Beirut Spring, Destabilizing Bombs, Samir Kassir Assassination, Gebran Tueni Assassination (in Italian)]
Beirut Synagogue / Lebanon
The synagogue of Beirut still testifies the presence of the very small Lebanese Jewish community. During the Lebanese civil war the synagogue was abandoned and occupied by Palestinian fighters. Located in Downtown Beirut, it is nowadays in ruin. Its renovation and preservation still represents a sensitive issue in Lebanon.
Ashura – Nabatieh (Lebanon)
Every year thousands of Shiites all around the world celebrate Ashura, a festivity to honour the martyrdom of the Imam Husayn, the grandson of Muhammad. Imam Husayn and his followers, cornered by the troops of Yazid, resisted until the tenth day, but then succumbed. On the tenth of Ashura, Shiites express their griefs to Husayn in different ways: performing a theatre piece, donating blood, hitting their chests. In the Southern Lebanese town of Nabatieh, the community followers still celebrate the festivity in its more traditional form; by hitting their head with a blade or a knife, provoking though a copious spilling of blood.
