Orphans, families in need attend mass Iftar in Beirut during Ramadan

Описание: (21 Feb 2026)
RESTRICTIION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Beirut, Lebanon - 21 February 2026
1. Various of mass iftar at the Beirut Exhibition Grounds, featuring a rope suspension performance and volunteers serving food to thousands of attendees as they wait for the iftar time to begin eating
2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Lina Al-Zaeem, head of the organizing association Ajialouna:
“This year, the iftar is different. As you can see, we are gathering 5,700 fasting people, most of them from orphanages, and some from underprivileged families from all Lebanese regions, from the North, the South, the mountains, Tripoli, Sidon, Akkar, and the Bekaa. The goal is to embody the true image of Lebanon, Lebanese people who love one another and stand united.”
3. Wide of the mass iftar
4. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam greeting children as he arrives
5. Various of attendees at tables, listening to call to prayer
6. Various of attendees enjoying their iftar
7. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Salwa Ali Hassan, resident of Beirut:
“The beautiful thing is that the Lebanese gather in a place like this and stand united. We will not be broken, God willing.”
8. Various of Salam and his wife at iftar
9. Mid of attendees at iftar
10. Various of Lebanese officials at iftar
++NIGHT SHOTS++
11. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Souad Faysal Amin, volunteer at the non-profit Ghassan Abu Sittah Children's Fund (GASCF):
“We were invited to this wonderful iftar with Lebanese people from all regions. It was an honor for us to participate with them, and 60 people (from Gaza) including children, some of whom were injured attended and took part in this beautiful Iftar. They were all very, very happy."
12. Various of participants leaving
STORYLINE:
Thousands of orphans and underprivileged families from Lebanese and Palestinian associations gathered for a mass iftar in Beirut on Saturday.

According to organizers, participants came from many parts of Lebanon "as a sign of unity and love.”

In addition to 700 volunteers, about 5,700 fasting people, most of them from orphanages and underprivileged families across Lebanon, attended the iftar.

“The goal is to embody the true image of Lebanon. Lebanese people who love one another and stand united,” said Lina Al-Zaeem, the head of the organizing association Ajialouna.

The iftar was also attended by Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, along with several ministers.

Salwa Ali Hassan, a participant from one of Beirut’s neighborhoods, expressed gratitude to the organizers and donors.

“The beautiful thing is that the Lebanese gather in a place like this and stand united,” she said.

Men, women and children, some of them injured in Gaza, were also invited to the iftar, said Souad Faysal Amin, a volunteer with the Ghassan Abu Sittah Children's Fund (GASCF), which works helping children affected by war in Gaza and Lebanon.

“60 people from Gaza, including children, some of whom were injured, attended and took part in this beautiful iftar. They were all very, very happy,” she added.

Mass iftars are often held in Beirut by organizations, mainly to raise donations for underprivileged families during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

AP Video shot by Ali Sharafeddine

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