Hamzah Osman, 24, in the port of Mina in Tripoli. In 2021, this ex-gym coach tried to reach Europe via irregular routes by land, air and sea. Despite his failed attempts, he continues to dream of only one thing: to leave. (OLJ/Marie Jo Sader)
The number of people undertaking perilous journeys by sea from Lebanon to Europe has more than doubled in 2022, for the second year in a row.But the death count from those journeys has multiplied in recent days. More than 70 people died when their irregular boat sank Thursday off the coast of the port city of Tartous, in northwestern Syria. Why are they making the risky decision to leave Lebanon? That was the subject of this article, published last July, which we suggest you reread today.“Are you Lebanese? Really? That’s new! Usually, we are the ones who flee to your country.” Hamzah Osman laughs as he recalls the words of a Syrian border guard who had been deployed in Albania and stopped him there while he was trying to flee on foot to Serbia in May 2021.Osman has become a “professional” clandestine migrant by land, air and sea. He has...
The number of people undertaking perilous journeys by sea from Lebanon to Europe has more than doubled in 2022, for the second year in a row.But the death count from those journeys has multiplied in recent days. More than 70 people died when their irregular boat sank Thursday off the coast of the port city of Tartous, in northwestern Syria. Why are they making the risky decision to leave Lebanon? That was the subject of this article, published last July, which we suggest you reread today.“Are you Lebanese? Really? That’s new! Usually, we are the ones who flee to your country.” Hamzah Osman laughs as he recalls the words of a Syrian border guard who had been deployed in Albania and stopped him there while he was trying to flee on foot to Serbia in May 2021.Osman has become a “professional” clandestine migrant by land, air and...
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