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Youssef was displaced from his home in Lebanon by Israeli bombing. Photo: Jacob Russell.
The conflict in southern Lebanon escalated dramatically in September of this year when Israeli launched an intense aerial bombardment campaign and ground invasion. Thousands of innocent civilians were caught in the crossfire.
Youssef was forced to leave his home in Lebanon when Israeli bombing commenced.
‘We were living in Mansouri while the bombing was happening. Suddenly, we had to leave our house. The roads were being bombed…and we felt scared and cried. As soon as we got outside, cars were driving by, and we continued on foot until we reached here…Our situation is difficult, and we long to escape.’
His mother, Kherriyye, was by his side, but she was equally terrified:
‘As soon as we left the house, it was bombed. My husband, my children, and I fled on foot, walking for two to three hours. We slept under a bridge in the cold, and the harsh conditions made my children sick. Eventually, a car rescued us and drove us to a nearby location, where we also slept under a bridge. We suffered immensely during this time, but eventually, we reached here. They told us that there is a school that is welcoming Syrians.
Kherriyye and her children. The family were forced to flee their home in Mansouri when Israeli bombing started. Photo: Jacob Russell
The family have relocated to a school in the Bekka Valley that is now being used as emergency accommodation. They have been supported by Trócaire and Irish Aid through our partner Women Now for Development.
When asked how he is filling his days at the camp, Youssef said ‘they bring us coloring pencils, and we color. They also bring us LEGO to play with’, and he spoke of his friends, ‘Abbas, Ibrahim, and Darine. We play catch together here.’
Kherryye says conditions are challenging with overcrowding, ‘around twenty-five people are sleeping in one room. If we need to go to the bathroom, we crawl to get out. We are suffering.’
Lebanese NGO, Women Now for Development are distributing dignity kits in the shelter with the support of Trócaire and Irish Aid. Rusella says, ‘the dignity kits include sanitary kits for women, like pads and wash, blankets. They include diapers for children.’
Maryam and her children were forced to flee their home in the south of Lebanon when Israeli bombing started. Photo: Jacob Russell.
Maryam’s Story
Maryam, another woman staying in the school says, ‘we stayed two days in the war, with bombing all around us, unable to get out. The fear was beyond anything you can imagine. I was holding my children the whole time. They would cry and hug me, crying.’
‘Thank God, may he bless them, he led us to this school where we found refuge. If it weren’t for this school, we would still be on the streets.’
And yet the family are still fearful as they hear bombing nearby. ‘Now, you see my children barely eating, not fully understanding what I tell them—they’re still thinking about the war. Every two to three days, we hear bombing, and sometimes it’s every day. All our children are traumatised. Wherever we go, they’re not forgetting anything.
Two days ago, my son asked me, “Why don’t we travel? There there’s no bombing, let us travel. I told him that we don’t have the resources to travel.”
I look at these children and think that traveling is better and safer for them. Traveling is the best option.
Darine lost her father in the war in Syria. Now she and her family have been forced to leave their home in Qlaileh: Photo: Jacob Russell.
Darine’s story
Israeli bombing also forced Darine to leave her hometown in Qlaileh in the south of Lebanon. She says, ‘we spent three days in the South without food. We stayed three days in the streets without food or water. I miss the South and our entire village’. Her family have relocated to the same school in the Bekka Valley.
Darine lost her father in the war in Syria, ‘I never saw him—only my sister did.’ I wish to travel to Germany and become a doctor. I want to become a dentist. To help people. I would ask him to brush his teeth and help him. Even if his smell was unpleasant, I would still brush his teeth and help him.’
Abeer Abed Al Ghani, a member of the Women Now team distributing emergency aid. Photo: Jacob Russell.
Thousands of families like Youssef’s, Maryam’s, and Darine’s are still struggling to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of conflict. Although a ceasefire has come into effect in recent weeks, and many of the more than one million people displaced in the conflict have been able to return home, many thousands remain displaced, their home too insecure or too damaged to inhabit.
As winter sets, these families will need help to cope with heavy rain and freezing temperatures in makeshift accommodation.
Your support can provide warmth and hope to families who have lost everything. Donate to Trócaire’s Christmas Appeal today and help bring comfort to those who need it most here.
