As Lebanon faces mounting instability, displaced Lebanese are pleading for the chance to return home while the country braces for further escalation in the ongoing conflict. Manahel Rammel, a resident who fled her village of Adaisseh in southern Lebanon due to Israeli air strikes and artillery, laments the loss of her home and the security it once provided. “I miss everything about my life back in the village,” Rammel says, reflecting on the devastation she witnessed when she returned briefly to salvage her belongings. Her house, once newly renovated, now lies in ruins, with shattered windows and collapsed tiles, leaving her overwhelmed with grief and fear.
For ten months, Rammel and her family have lived in a dilapidated hotel far from the border, sharing space with 60 other families in similarly dire conditions. The lack of privacy and basic amenities in the hotel, combined with the constant threat of further violence, adds to their misery. Hussein Abed Turmos, another displaced individual, describes the destruction of his home, saying that the bombings have rendered it uninhabitable. Despite the devastation, Turmos feels a sense of helplessness, resigned to enduring the situation as best as he can.
The broader impact of the conflict is stark, with nearly 100,000 Lebanese displaced in southern Lebanon due to the ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel. The psychological toll on children is severe, with reports of chronic fear and poor school performance, according to UNICEF psychologist Abbas Mezher. Mezher highlights the long-term consequences, as children internalize their trauma and may grow up harboring resentment and seeking revenge.
Hezbollah's recent attacks on Israel, following the Hamas terror attacks on October 7, have led to a severe Israeli response, resulting in further devastation in southern Lebanon. The conflict has also prompted calls for an Israeli invasion and intensified fears of a wider war. The Israeli government has evacuated 60,000 Israelis from northern regions as a precaution.
In the port city of Sidon, 60 kilometers from the border, businesses struggle amid the conflict. Mahmoud Kiblawi, a local greengrocer, reports a significant drop in customers and a pervasive sense of fear among residents. The situation was starkly illustrated when an Israeli airstrike targeted a vehicle near Sidon, further emphasizing the conflict's reach into Lebanese territory.
While Hezbollah has indicated a potential cessation of attacks if a ceasefire is achieved in Gaza, the broader conflict remains volatile. For now, the displaced Lebanese, including children deeply affected by the conflict, face an uncertain future, with their hopes of returning home seemingly distant.
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