“They left their memories and childhood behind and now live a life that doesn’t belong to them.”
Miriam and her family were forced to flee their home in southern Lebanon due to the escalation in hostilities. When we met her, she and her family were staying in a school shelter with other displaced families.
“We were received very well here. Honestly, we thank them very much for everything they are doing and providing for us here.”
I am Mariam, 40 years old, from southern Lebanon. We were living a normal life. Suddenly, we woke up to the sounds of airstrikes and bombing, which caused my children to become anxious.
I have two daughters who are very scared. My mother and sister were also with me at home. My sister had a cesarean section just five days ago, and my mother is elderly and cannot walk much.
I didn’t want my children to stay in an atmosphere of war and bombing, but at the same time, I couldn’t leave my mother and sister behind.
So, I had to send my children with their uncle to a safe place where they could live away from fear and anxiety.
I stayed in the village, but after three days, I couldn’t bear being away from my children anymore.
So, I took my sister, who had just given birth, and my mother, and we came here. My sister’s husband didn’t want to leave. He wanted to stay with his friends in the village, so he stayed, and we came here.
We walked through areas devastated by the war [redacted text]. Everywhere we looked, there was destruction. We went through extremely grim times.
Drones were flying above us, and bombing sounds surrounded us. We didn’t even know how we got here.
I’m not afraid; I stay strong for my children, but my sister is very scared, which adds to our stress and exhaustion.
We were received very well here. [These] are truly good people. Honestly, we thank them very much for everything they are doing and providing for us here.
The children’s mental health has been affected by what they experienced in the village and what they are going through here as displaced people.
Life here is hard due to the lack of electricity, water, and the cold.
If the war drags on, how will we survive here?
We live in a school, and it’s cold both at night and during the day. The children always have a fever.
We won’t be at peace, even if we stay in palaces, the way we were in our village. The children left their memories behind and now live a different life under mental pressure.
They left their memories and childhood behind and now live a life that doesn’t belong to them.
We may be able to stay strong, but how will the children cope, and what will their future be?
We want to return to our areas and live in peace. We don’t want this war.
We want our children to live the life they desire and not have their future destroyed.