A car loaded with mattresses, back in Beirut's southern suburbs after the cease-fire in Lebanon, Nov. 27, 2024. (Credit: Mohammad Yassin/L'Orient Today)
When the war in Lebanon between Hezbollah and Israel escalated in late September, Elissar*, a 42-year-old Shiite woman, was forced to flee her home twice. Yet, the “humanity” and kindness of strangers she met along the way helped her navigate her difficulties. She left her apartment in Bir al-Abed, in Beirut’s southern suburbs, for the first time on Sept. 27, after powerful Israeli strikes killed Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah. Fearing for her safety, she sought refuge in her village of origin in the western Bekaa Valley. A few days later, Israeli bombings spread to her village, forcing her to flee once again. Read more Feuds and longing: How families survived the war, separated or cramped under one roof Seeking shelter, Elissar and her family were welcomed for a few days in Barr Elias, near Zahle, by a Christian family, whom...
When the war in Lebanon between Hezbollah and Israel escalated in late September, Elissar*, a 42-year-old Shiite woman, was forced to flee her home twice. Yet, the “humanity” and kindness of strangers she met along the way helped her navigate her difficulties. She left her apartment in Bir al-Abed, in Beirut’s southern suburbs, for the first time on Sept. 27, after powerful Israeli strikes killed Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah. Fearing for her safety, she sought refuge in her village of origin in the western Bekaa Valley. A few days later, Israeli bombings spread to her village, forcing her to flee once again. Read more Feuds and longing: How families survived the war, separated or cramped under one roof Seeking shelter, Elissar and her family were welcomed for a few days in Barr Elias, near Zahle, by a Christian family,...