Missile and drone strikes are escalating across the Middle East, and Brisbane Maronite priest Fr Fadi Salame says the people of his village in southern Lebanon feel like they have “no say” in what happens next. Source: The Catholic Leader.
Lebanon has become a battleground again after Hezbollah forces launched rocket attacks into Israel in recent days.
Israel launched a counter-offensive and sent troops into Lebanon in response.
In Brisbane, Fr Salame said his parishioners were upset about how little control their people had over the conflict.
“War wasn’t a state decision,” he said. “The party of Hezbollah decided to start bombarding Israel without asking anyone.”
He said many Lebanese were born in times of war and had few memories of peace in their lifetime.
“Everyone wants stability, wants their life to settle down after 50 years of war, we’ve had enough,” he said.
Fr Salame said the fighting and threat of escalation had caused many people to leave their villages to head for larger communities.
“So for example, we have (Israeli) troops in our village now,” he said. “We don’t know whether they’re going to stay or (keep moving). This is the worry of our people: how long is it going to go on?”
He said people were worried about utilities and healthcare because in previous conflicts the hospitals shut down and all the doctors went to the capital, Beirut.
Caritas is urgently calling for support for Lebanon.
“The humanitarian consequences of this escalation are severe,” Caritas Lebanon said in a statement.
“Thousands of civilians have been forced to flee their homes, essential services are disrupted, and many communities are cut off from basic assistance.
“The resulting fear, trauma, and uncertainty have a deep impact across entire communities already strained by years of hardship.”
Official reports continue to indicate rising civilian casualties, with more than 50 people killed and more than 150 wounded in the initial bombardment.
Roads out of conflict-affected areas are severely congested, complicating both evacuations and the delivery of aid.
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Maronite priest says no one knows what comes next as Lebanese people caught in the middle of fighting (By Joe Higgins, The Catholic Leader)
