Beirut: Musician Naseer Shamma's oud playing brings hope to the lives of refugees at the UNESCO Palace in Beirut. A public musical evening featuring Iraqi oud player and composer Naseer Shamma was held at the UNESCO Palace in Beirut on World Refugee Day. The event, attended by former Iraqi President Barham Salih and the head of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, evolved into a vibrant cinematic and musical festival. It reflected the suffering, sorrows, joys, and hopes of refugees.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Shamma presented a diverse musical performance that blended various Eastern styles and schools. This was united by a revivalist musical approach for which Shamma is well-known, awakening the collective Iraqi musical consciousness. The performance prominently featured Iraq, with Shamma's distinctive and dazzling oud performance. The event kicked off with speeches from the organizers explaining the objectives and issues of World Refugee Day. Attendees were then treated to films and animations by Iraqi refugee children titled "Our Life in Iraq" followed by a presentation titled "Our Journey to Lebanon," which detailed their struggles as refugees.

The atmosphere of solidarity reached a peak with enthusiastic applause as Shamma took the stage, carrying his oud, a renowned Iraqi artistic icon. For an hour, Shamma performed pieces such as "The Flower of Pain," which was accompanied by large cinematic images of Iraqi refugees projected on a giant screen. He also played "Ya Dara Douri Fina," a tribute to Beirut and the late Philimon Wehbe, accompanied by evocative images of Iraqi immigrants' conditions in Lebanon. The performance offered deep and moving musical dimensions, with Shamma's masterful oud playing.

Shamma also performed "Late Joy," a piece reflecting the anticipated withdrawal of Americans from Iraqi cities, encapsulating emotional expectations and memories of Iraqis. The evening concluded with a tribute to Umm Kulthum through the music of Baligh Hamdi's "Ba'eed Annak" (Far From You). The UNHCR presented Shamma with a plaque in appreciation of his free participation, with concert proceeds supporting UNHCR activities for Iraqi, Palestinian, and Sudanese refugees. This gesture aligns with Shamma's tradition of supporting humanitarian causes across various events.