Hope and strength under attack in Southern Lebanon
In the village of Beit Yahoun, in southern Lebanon, people live in constant fear. The attacks have been ongoing for a long time, and daily life is marked by uncertainty, stress, and anxiety. For the residents, this is not a distant war, it is a reality that can turn their lives upside down in an instant.
“We are exhausted, overwhelmed by stress and fear. No one cares,” says Zeinab Naji. She puts into words what many feel:
“One moment we are safe at home, the next we might receive an evacuation order from the Israeli army and risk losing everything we own.”
A desire to live in peace
For Zeinab and the others in Beit Yahoun, fear is constant. They worry about their own lives, their husbands, their children. Yet there is one thing they are clear about:
“This is our land. We cultivate this soil. We want to stay. All we want is to live in peace.”
Their attachment to their home is strong:
“This is where we were born and raised, and this is where we will die. We will never leave,” she says firmly.
A ceasfire that never brought peace
One year ago, a ceasefire was signed between Israel and Lebanon. Hopes were high, but the reality is brutal:
“It’s even worse now. There is no peace. The war never ended. Now it’s more unpredictable than ever. Any place can be attacked at any time, with little warning,” the women explain.
No one is taking responsibility for rebuilding what has been destroyed:
“Those of us who have lost everything receive no support to rebuild. We are sitting here talking to you now, but we don’t know if we’ll be alive in two hours. It’s an enormous psychological strain.”
Many have lost their livelihoods and income. For them, daily life is a struggle to hold on to hope.
When hope becomes a weekly routine
Amid this insecurity, there is a small ray of light. Norwegian Church Aid, together with our partner the Middle East Council of Churches, offers psychosocial support to people living under extreme pressure. For Zeinab, these meetings are the highlight of her week:
“I prepare everything at home the day before, cook food and get the house ready so I can be away. There is very little other support than what Norwegian Church Aid provides. This is what we need: to come together, talk, cry. Here it’s safe to show emotions, and we get help to manage stress, anxiety, and fear.”
The support they receive helps them cope with the hardships they face:
“We need techniques and tools to handle our lives, stress, and fear. I’m happy every time I come here and see your people. They always smile.”
A cry to be seen
Zeinab has one plea to the authorities:
“I wish the authorities in Beirut would come here, see how we live, and listen to what it’s like to be here.”
In Beit Yahoun, the sense of community remains strong despite the fear:
“We support and help each other. We are one community, regardless of ethnicity and religion.”
Powerful stories
Norwegian Church Aid has been present in Lebanon since 2012, responding to numerous humanitarian crises. Including the Syrian refugee crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, economic collapse, the Beirut explosion, and recent border conflicts.
Håvard Hovdhaugen, Area Director for Lebanon and Syria at Norwegian Church Aid, has met the people here and says it is something truly special:
“It’s powerful to hear their stories about living under constant attacks and how severe the situation is. They tell me it’s important that the world hears what is happening here in the south.”
Even though these are challenging areas to work in, it is especially important to be where the need is greatest:
“It feels deeply meaningful to provide psychosocial first aid when we hear how difficult their lives are.”
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