Nov, 2024
Finding Hope in the Nation's Darkest Days
Over 1.5 million people across Lebanon have been forced from their homes by the ongoing conflict, leaving behind everything they know and love. Today, dozens, even hundreds of families crowd in shelters, uncertain of when, or if, they’ll ever return home. The harsh realities they face are more than just a fight for survival—they’re a struggle to keep their hope alive amid overwhelming adversity.
These are not just stories—they’re the cries of a people caught in the grip of war, a war that has displaced mothers, children, the elderly, and the vulnerable.
"This war is nothing like the 2006 war."
These are the heavy words of Mirna, a mother from Tyre, as she sits in the corner of the Kuwaiti School shelter in Saida with her children huddled close. Mirna fled her home when Israeli airstrikes struck nearby.
“We left without a choice,” she recalls in a low voice. "We spent two nights in our car before finding a place here. My father, sick, and my brother with special needs came with us. It’s painful, being unable to protect them at home.”
Her eyes water as she recounts how her little boy clings to her each time explosions shake the building. "I just want to go home and forget all of this," she whispers, holding her children even closer.
As our staff member Hanadi Yahia visits the shelter, she feels the weight of each story.
“The days here are a struggle for everyone,” she says. “People face unthinkable challenges—finding food, washing clothes, and coping with the chill of winter that has only just begun. I was heartbroken to hear Mirna tell me she can’t always get basic needs like feminine hygiene products, or even small things for her son like she used to. Beyond the physical hardship, the emotional toll is immense. For them, every day is about survival, about clinging to what little normalcy remains.”
Zahra, a Lebanese elder from Mansoury, remembers each war she’s survived. “I thought this one would pass quickly. We went to Tyre first, but our house was destroyed in our absence. We had to flee again, with only the clothes we could carry.”
“I miss my home."
Her words came slowly, filled with weariness. "I’ve seen so many wars, but this one... it doesn’t distinguish between a child, a mother, a nurse, or a journalist. There’s nowhere left that feels safe. All I want is to get back to my home, and to live the rest of my days in peace."
“I don’t know what will kill us first—the war or the worry."
Ibrahim, from Bazourye, left after seeing his neighborhood fall to rubble.
“So many buildings were hit,” he recounts, pain etched on his face. “I still haven’t healed from the losses of 2006, and here we are again. My children are in Beirut, but I’m here with my sick brother and his wife. Each day feels like a battle to stay sane. We’ve lost our homes, our friends — sometimes, it feels like we’re losing our hope.” He looks away, overwhelmed. “I don’t know what’s harder to survive, the war or the worry that fills every hour.”
These are just a few of the thousands of suffering stories — Mirna’s, Zahra’s, and Ibrahim’s voices echo the pain and resilience of countless others.
“Each day feels like a battle to stay sane."
Anera has increased its capacity to support more displaced families, focusing on the needs of children through bedding kits, psychosocial activities, winterization kits, and specialized hygiene products.
Additionally, Anera’s training programs, including sewing courses, are helping youth create essential items like sleeping bags for those in need. These programs provide both immediate relief and long-term resilience, offering youth a chance to support their families while making a positive impact in their community.
Together, we can provide the support they need to survive and rebuild, ensuring they have the opportunity for a better tomorrow.
Lebanon
South Governorate
The South Governorate of Lebanon is a beautiful place with white beaches, archeological ruins, bustling old souks, fertile fields of citrus and banana trees, and a deep history. Its residents are from different religions: Shia and Sunni Muslims, Druze, Eastern Orthodox, Maronite, Protestant, and Greek Catholic Christians. Its biggest cities are also the third and fourth largest in the country, Saida and Tyre.
