Reports of Hezbollah commanders being killed are increasing, and numerous people have died. But how do the citizens of Lebanon experience the situation?
Israeli bombs fall in Lebanon every day. There were six attacks on the northern neighbor on Tuesday night alone, and things continued straight away on Tuesday morning. The military and the government see these actions as a success. In a short time, Israel eliminated large parts of the leadership of the terrorist organization Hezbollah, including its leader Hassan Nasrallah.
What quickly gets lost in such announcements is the situation of the people on site. On Monday alone, 95 people died within 24 hours and 172 others were injured. Many of them had no connection to Hezbollah. Tens of thousands more fled to Beirut from the south after the start of the Israeli ground offensive.
But people there also live in fear because of the attacks. Nobody knows what will happen next, the situation is unpredictable. Nevertheless, they have to shape their lives. How do people experience the situation? t-online spoke to people who currently live in Lebanon.
When asked how she is doing, Nicole Hamouche answers “fifty, fifty”. She tries to stay positive, but that’s becoming increasingly rare these days. The French-Lebanese journalist lives in Beirut and experiences the attacks every day. “We don’t feel safe. We don’t know what to do.” Her voice sounds desperate, it’s a “tragic situation.”
Last night, Israeli drones flew over their house. This scares Hamouche. She lives in a Christian neighborhood. “This is purely a residential area, there is no Hezbollah here and no Palestinians either. What are they doing here?”
Such experiences fuel insecurity. The feeling: There is no hope for improvement, the Lebanese people are being forgotten. “We are left to our fate.” She is also disappointed with her second home. She lived in France for 14 years and received a Western education. It was always about the importance of democracy. “I’m shocked now by the double standards. Elsewhere they don’t care about democracy.”
The French embassy recently informed that a ship from France was heading towards Lebanon and was ready for a possible evacuation. This is hardly any consolation for Hamouche. “I don’t want a ship, I want solutions.” Although the government is signaling its solidarity with Lebanon, it is doing little to stabilize the situation. “My mother lives here. She is 90 years old and doesn’t want to leave. What should I do with her?”
According to the Lebanese government, one million people are displaced in the country, many of whom came to Beirut from the south, especially after the start of the ground offensive. Read more about the goals of the displaced here.
But there is also hope in these dark times, says Hamouche: “Lebanese solidarity is great. The displaced people are welcome everywhere, everyone helps.”
Katrin Prütz also notices this. The 54-year-old originally comes from Greifswald, but has been living in Lebanon for almost 20 years. She also describes the solidarity as “impossibly great”. You are among like-minded people. Christians and Muslims would also stick together these days. Nobody wants a new civil war. She is deeply impressed by how people are always helpful despite their personal fates.
Prütz’s son Henry is also committed to the refugees from the south. He actually runs the German restaurant “Zur Krone” north of Beirut, but now he cooks for those who are sometimes just sleeping on mattresses on the streets after fleeing the Israeli army. He prepares 2,000 meals a day with other helpers and also provides his restaurant’s equipment. He also organizes donations to buy food.
