Belgian war journalist Robin Ramaekers and his regular cameraman Stijn De Smet were injured in the Lebanese capital Beirut. DPG Media reports that both have been brought to safety and are being treated. They are doing well under the circumstances.
The two Belgians have been in Lebanon since September 26 to report for VTM News. It is not clear how the men were injured.
Israel attacked a Hezbollah-linked health center in the heart of Beirut on the night of Wednesday to Thursday. Several people were killed. “When Robin and Stijn wanted to make a report about it, they were injured. Further details about the circumstances are not yet known,” says DPG Media.
The men are in different hospitals. Ramaekers is being treated for an injury to his leg. De Smet has several fractures in his face. The Belgian embassy is accompanying the men on site, says Nicholas Lataire, the director of the umbrella news department of VTM and Het Laatste Nieuws ( HLN ). “We are doing everything we can to bring them home as soon as possible. Our full attention is now focused on them.”
Ramaekers and De Smet are experienced reporters who have been reporting on conflicts around the world for ten years, according to Belgian media. They were previously in Ukraine to report on the Russian invasion. According to HLN, the men receive “special training in war journalism on a regular basis”.
