CMEC Director Charlotte Leslie talks to Nayla de Freige, president of the world-renowned international annual Baalbek Festival, held among the ancient ruins of Baalbek in Lebanon, about the impact of Israeli strikes at this UNESCO World Heritage Site. As this podcast goes live, an Israel - Hezbollah ceasefire has been announced.
Nayla de Freige, CEO of L'Orient-Le Jour media group, is the Director of the Baalbek Festival - an international festival held at Baalbek, in Lebanon's Bequaa Valley, north east of Beirut. She describes the terrible impact of the devastating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah not only on this invaluable UNESCO World Heritage Site, but on the Lebanese people as a whole, and the grave threat posed to her home - the historic city of Baalbek.
Israel's offensive in Lebanon, in retaliation for Hezbollah's missiles launched into Northern Israel, have killed at least 3,400 people in Lebanon and have displaced around a million people. It has also jeopardised the extraordinary and ancient legacy of Baalbek as well as its international festival that has witnessed performances down the years by great artists including Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis and Placido Domingo.
As this podcast goes live, a ceasefire has been announced between Israel and Hezbollah.
