Beating Hearts

The Karantina Hospital houses one of only two paediatric departments in Lebanon It is a safe haven for ill babies unable to get treatment elsewhere In 2014 this ward was established via the charitable work of ASSAMEH Birth Beyond Sadly on the 4th August 2020 the hospital was badly damaged in the Beirut port explosion forcing it to shut down and relocate to a temporary location This short film takes us into the hospital a couple of months before the explosion to meet the staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to help sick and vulnerable children Through their struggle and dedication we see the fragility of the Lebanese healthcare system in relation to its weak economy and precarious work force as well as the altruism of the Lebanese people offering glimmers of life to ill sometimes neglected and hopeless babies