Displaced but unbroken: Sabah’s journey from home to heartache

Fifty-seven-year-old Sabah and her family were forced to flee their home in Nabatieh, South Lebanon, amid the harrowing airstrikes. Alongside her husband, two sons, and daughter, she endured a gruelling journey, first to the southern suburbs of Beirut, then further into the city. Now, they find themselves living with her brother and his family, who were also displaced, unsure of when, or if, they will ever be able to return to the life they left behind.

“The road to Beirut was a nightmare. We suffered every step of the way,” Sabah says. “There were airstrikes the whole time, and the fear was overwhelming. We had no choice but to leave.”

The familiar life they once knew has vanished, replaced by a strained and uncomfortable existence far from home. Sabah’s sister and her family, and another family, have also taken refuge in a nearby mini-market. They now rely on the generosity of others to get by, as they struggle with the absence of work, limited finances, and no medical resources.

“Life here is hard,” Sabah admits. “We’re grateful for the meals, for the clothes people have given us, but it doesn’t make this place home. We’ll never feel comfortable here.”

Her daughter suffers from debilitating migraines, and the lack of access to medications only adds to Sabah’s burdens. Yet, even in these dark days, she clings to a single, unbreakable hope.

“All we want is to go back home,” she says quietly. “I ask for nothing but the mercy of God and the chance to return to where we belong. Nothing will be the same anymore, but only there can we be whole again.”

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Nearly 180,000 people are now living in temporary shelters across Lebanon, many of which do not have basic supplies and proper facilities for cooking and hygiene. The situation is especially dire for older people, and your support now is invaluable in helping to address their urgent needs.