Christians in southern Lebanon flee crossfire

While many Christian families have fled to safer areas, priests and religious stay to minister to those who must look after their homes, or who are too old or frail to relocate. ACN is helping with food packages and medical assistance, as well as access to online education for students in the area’s Catholic schools.

 According to data collected by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), in many of Lebanon’s Christian villages, up to 90 percent of the population has left since October, seeking safety in other parts of the country. And while some without long-term shelter came back, returns seem to have slowed for the moment.

Since the military operation against Hamas began, Israel and Hezbollah have exchanged near-daily rocket fire in southern Lebanon. For the people who live there, this violence it is reminiscent of the 2006 war and, local religious leaders say, is a threat to the historic Christian presence in the region.

They describe Alma el Chaeb as the worst affected village so far, with 15 houses destroyed by rocket fire and members of a local family killed. In Yaroun, the Melkite Catholic Church was damaged, though fortunately, nobody was hurt.

Empty streets

“The bombing is still happening daily. The streets are very quiet; you don’t see men drinking coffee on stools or children playing soccer. People are too afraid to go into their fields, so there is an economic impact on these families, many of whom are already poor because of Lebanon’s ongoing financial collapse,” said Xavier Stephen Bisits, who is responsible for ACN projects in the region and recently visited the area.

ACN has approved an emergency package for affected Catholic schools in the region, which have had to scale back activities and shift to online teaching. “Keeping institutions running at this point is critical. People are thankful for that,” said Bisits.

In some locations, entire families have left, leaving behind only one young man to look after the property and guard it from theft, but other villages and cities have been less affected. For example, life in Tyr, an important city with a significant Christian community, remains relatively normal.

Church remains steadfast

While many civilians have relocated to relatives’ houses in Beirut, or other safe havens, the clergy and religious who serve the Christian community are staying in place. Not a single priest, local sources say, has abandoned his flock. Recently, the bishops of the Maronite and Melkite Churches even traveled to the locations closest to the border with Israel, to celebrate the Eucharist and see the situation for themselves.

“The Maronite Bishop of Tyr recently celebrated Mass in the village of Rmeich, under threat of bombs. It is a testament to the solid faith and resilience of the people in this region. The Melkite bishop of Tyr also went on a tour to check on the faithful in the villages along the border. He was clearly affected by the haunting emptiness he witnessed in Yaroun, where only a few young men remain, watching over the houses, including a blind man who cannot bear to leave,” said Bisits.

Another concern is the elderly, who are too frail to make long trips to safety. In this case, the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in Debel have taken to gathering and protecting them in their convent whenever the threat of bombings increases.

In Beirut, where it is safe, many Christian families have opened their doors to those who fled. Homes that used to house one family now house up to three, putting a strain on resources, psychological health, and hygiene. The local churches and religious congregations are trying to secure communal spaces to provide for more internally displaced people in case the situation worsens.

“Besides the immediate risk to lives and property, there is also the fact that agricultural fields are being damaged. Olives and tobacco are an important source of income for the local communities, but farming – and in the case of olives, harvesting – has stalled because people are afraid to go out to their fields,” said Bisits.

Fear of a return to war

All this is taking place against a backdrop of political and financial crisis. “The situation is disturbing. Conversations are dominated by the fear of a return to war. The lack of official leadership to provide guidance or assurance is worrying. People want stability, an end to the uncertainty, and for their lives to be ‘normal’ again,” explained  Bisits. “A recurring message we hear from most local people is that Lebanon does not want another war.”

Since the beginning of Israel’s military operation in the Gaza Strip, tension has also risen between Israel and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed paramilitary group that operates out of Lebanon. According to international media, the violence, which has largely been limited to the border area, has killed more than 130 people in Lebanon, including 94 Hezbollah fighters and 17 civilians. In Israel, the hostilities have killed eight soldiers and four civilians. Although most of Israel’s strikes have been against Hezbollah targets, which tend to be placed in Shiite areas, some Christian villages have also been affected.

This is not the first time that Christians have dealt with displacement and relocation in the region. Christians used to be a majority in large parts of southern Lebanon, but for decades, they have been leaving due to civil war and fighting with Israel, which has made the area a Shiite stronghold.

ACN has approved several emergency projects to support the Church in southern Lebanon, including food packages, medical and social assistance, operational aid for Catholic schools, equipment for a Catholic dispensary, and the distribution of hygiene necessities. ACN is partnering with the local Maronite and Melkite Churches, as well as with the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

—Filipe d’Avillez