Lebanon: Jesuits offer shelter and hope amid growing crises
Tens of thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes in Lebanon amid the escalation in hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. The situation took an even deadlier turn in recent days with attacks on electronic devices, triggering explosions that killed hundreds and injured many.
Fr Michael Zammit, Provincial of the Near-East (PRO) recounts the tale of a nation besieged by uncertainty and violence. While leaving Beirut for Cairo recently, in the company of another Jesuit heading to the Novitiate, he wondered how the only airline that still dared to fly managed to take off in time amid the confusion at the baggage check-in area.
His departure coincides with the second day of school closures, even in the capital Beirut, after deadly attacks across Lebanon - from southern strongholds to the Beqaa valley - on 24 September. Over 500 people were reportedly killed in those attacks.
Fr Zammit went on to describe the horrific scenes at Saint Joseph’s Jesuit University Hospital in Beirut following the pager and walkie-talkie bomb attacks. He said that on Tuesday alone, more than 80 injured people had arrived at the hospital, with wounds ranging from finger amputations to facial injuries and irreparable eye damage.
He said that over the
weekend there had been a mass exodus from the south, in particular from the
Beqaa and other dangerous areas. Tens of thousands of people were on the roads
trying to reach the north of the country, and some were reported to have left
Lebanese territory on foot for Syria.
Jesuit Refugee Service staff prepare food to distribute to those displaced by the conflict in Lebanon. Photos: JRS MENA
Throughout this turmoil, Fr Zammit finds some solace in the resilience of the Jesuit community, though many Jesuits are distressed for their families. He also highlighted the empathy being shown to the students living in areas that have been devastated by bombing.
Responding to the urgent humanitarian situation unfolding in the country, the Jesuit Church of Saint Joseph in Beirut, has opened its doors to about 70 Sudanese who have been displaced because of the fighting. These families, some of whom have sought refuge in shelters, were refused in other places because they are migrants.
The initiative, led by the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) and the Arrupe Migrant Center, seeks to provide immediate relief and temporary sanctuary for the migrants by repurposing the first floor of the Church to accommodate them, as they seek more permanent shelter.
JRS has been present in the country since 2013, providing refugees with accompaniment, education, and psychosocial support. Due to the rapid escalation and unpredictability of the conflict, these activities have been suspended and efforts are now directed to emergency support, with the distribution of basic necessities and mattresses in shelters. Many JRS staff were also affected and forced to flee their homes because of the bombing.
The emergency response calls for support - food, mattresses, hygiene kits, clothing, and volunteers to help with activities for the children, many of whom have already lived through situations of profound distress and are in urgent need of psychosocial support.
To make a donation:
• Australia - Jesuit Mission
• Austria - Jesuiten Weltweit
• Canada - Canadian Jesuits International
• Germany - Jesuiten Weltweit
• Global - JRS International
• Spain - Alboan
• Spain - Fundación Entreculturas
• Switzerland - Jesuiten Weltweit
• USA - JRS USA
JRS’s response to Lebanon crisis
Following the escalation of the crisis in Lebanon, JRS remains committed to accompanying those in need.
Related Posts:
Pope Francis reminds us that the encounter with the migrant, as with anyone in need “is also an encounter with Christ” and invites the Church to unite in prayer “for all those who have had to leave their land in search of dignified living conditions”.
Sudan, located in north-eastern Africa, has been a hotbed for a deepening socio-political crisis since fighting broke out in the country last year. So far, international organizations estimate that about 25.6 million people – more than half of Sudan’s population – face acute hunger...
A reflection arising from the experience of the Coordinator for Ecology of the South Asian Jesuit Conference.
Central to JRS’s mission is reconciliation - among people, with the environment, and with God. JRS operates globally as an apostolate of the Society of Jesus, grounded in its universal charism of reconciliation and justice. It embodies the Society’s mission to promote...
In a world marked by geopolitical turmoil, war and economic instability, many people have been forced into situations of forced displacement. The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) has been at the forefront of providing hope and support to those most in need.
As global challenges increase, so does the urgency to overcome the destructive feelings that separate us and fuel hatred towards the “other”. This World Refugee Day we join JRS and other partners in urging everyone to go beyond labels and recognise the humanity we share.
