‘One roof’: Lebanese citizens mobilise to shelter people fleeing Israeli strikes
Nearly half a million people have fled southern Lebanon and the western region of Baalbek since the Israeli military began dropping bombs there on September 23, according to Lebanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdallah Bou Habib. We spoke to people on the ground who are mobilising to help displaced families.
More than 700 people, including women and children, have died and more than 1,800 have been wounded since Israel began strikes on Lebanon on Monday, according to Lebanese authorities.
These deadly attacks have forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes.
‘My windows exploded’
The number of displaced people has skyrocketed this week. Before the Israeli strikes began, the number was thought to be around 110,000. In the past few days, it soared past 500,000, according to the Lebanese minister of foreign affairs.
Our team spoke with Rami Ghandour, who fled from his village in southern Lebanon to the nearby town of Sidon.
I’m from the village of Al-Ghazieh, not far from Sidon. The Israeli army bombed my village eight times. Finally, my family and I were forced to leave our home on September 23 after the explosions shattered our windows.
Most of my neighbours from the village have had to seek shelter at mosques, schools or churches.
I fled with my sister, my mother and my father. My parents are really elderly and suffer from chronic illnesses, but I don’t even have the money to buy their medication.
