Doors, both metaphoric and physical, have been left open in Belgium overnight.
This is despite the fact Belgium’s capital Brussels has been bombed in twin terrorist attacks, of which Islamic State has since claimed responsibility.
At least 31 people have been killed in the attacks at Brussels Airport and a train station an hour away, and hundreds more have been injured.
Belgium is in lockdown, but plenty of Belgians are opening their doors to those affected by the blasts. They’re using the hashtags #IkWilHelpen (I will help) and #PorteOuverte (open door) in a bid to offer help to those who can’t get home.
The #PorteOuverte hashtag was widely used following the Paris attacks last November, when many in the city used it to offer shelter.
Belgians are now offering shelter and car rides to complete strangers.
They’re also, more metaphorically, speaking up to say that despite fear being the key objective of these attacks, it’s help that they ultimately want to give to others.
We are across the world but are still here #OpenDoor #PorteOuverte
— Adrian Alvarez (@adriaaanalvarez) March 22, 2016
If you are stuck in Brussels with no place to stay, I have a bedroom for 2 or 3 and food to welcome you in Saint Gilles. #opendoor #brussels
— Emilie Lutgen (@emilielutgen) March 22, 2016
Anyone in the Ixelles/Uccle area unable to get home tonight, we have space @SustConsult #opendoor #porteouverte
— Kathryn Sheridan (@kathrynsheridan) March 22, 2016
If you’re stuck in #Brussels and need sleep/food/coffee, my door near Sainte-Catherine is open #brusselsopendoors #Porteouverte #Opendoor
— Juliette Sanchez-L. (@JSanchezLambert) March 22, 2016
What the suicide bombers who attacked Brussels hope to achieve is still unclear.
But an immediate response on social media proves that if disunity and hatred were their end goals, then they have failed.
Cynics will say there’s very little these hashtags can actually do, and few people actually take up such offers.
It’s just a social media response. It’s just words and hashtags, and a few taps on a laptop or a smart phone. But they’re small little reminders that ultimately humanity will trump fear every time.
And if it can make one person feel more welcome, more at home and more comfortable in their own cities, is that not a win?
It seems more of an achievement than whatever it is that these suicide bombers could hope to achieve.