Caught in the Crossfire: The Struggles of Refugees in a Tense Lebanon

 

The specter of war hangs heavily over Lebanon, a country already mired in economic crisis and political unrest. For the refugees who have sought shelter within its borders, the potential for conflict adds another layer of fear to their precarious lives. Alaa, a Syrian who escaped to Lebanon in 2014 after a missile destroyed his family’s home in Aleppo, now works as a hairdresser in Beirut. The possibility of another war, this time between Hezbollah and Israel, weighs on his mind. "A war would affect everyone here: Lebanese and Syrian," Alaa told Al Jazeera, reflecting the shared anxiety of refugees who know that in war, no one is safe.

Lebanon has become a temporary home for millions of people fleeing violence in their own countries, but it is a fragile sanctuary. The country's economic decline and political instability make life difficult for everyone, but especially for refugees, who often find themselves with fewer resources and options than Lebanese citizens. The looming conflict between Hezbollah and Israel threatens to turn their fragile existence into a nightmare.

Alaa, who lives in the bustling neighborhood of Hamra in West Beirut, is among those who have resigned themselves to the possibility of war. He has already experienced the horrors of conflict once, and the thought of going through it again is overwhelming. Yet, for him and many others, there is no clear escape route. "I live day by day," Alaa said, a statement that captures the uncertainty that dominates the lives of refugees in Lebanon.

The assassination of senior Hezbollah commander Fuad Shakr in Beirut and Hamas’s political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran has only intensified the fear of impending war. These events, likely orchestrated by Israel, have escalated regional tensions, leading to increased Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon and raising concerns that the conflict could spread. Refugees like Alaa are left wondering what will happen to them if the situation continues to deteriorate.

For some, like Bakhri Yousef, a Sudanese national working in Beirut, the prospect of staying in Lebanon through a war is unthinkable. Bakhri, who has been in Lebanon since 2017, sends money back to his family in Sudan every month. He knows that if war breaks out, his ability to support them will be jeopardized. Despite the dangers in Sudan, where his family lives under siege in el-Obeid, Bakhri believes he would be better off returning there than staying in Lebanon. "If the situation got really bad here, then I would rather go home," he said, acknowledging that in Lebanon, he has no one to rely on.

For many Syrian refugees, returning to Syria is not a viable option, even in the face of a new conflict in Lebanon. The fear of conscription into the Syrian army or persecution by the Assad regime keeps them from considering a return to their homeland. Mohammad, a laundromat owner in Beirut, is one of many Syrians who would rather fight in Lebanon than return to Syria. "We would prefer fighting against Israel than returning home to fight against our people," he told Al Jazeera, highlighting the desperate choices that refugees must make in times of war.

The worsening situation in Lebanon has prompted some Syrians to seek a way out, despite the risks. Mohammad noted that many of his fellow Syrians are attempting to return to Syria in hopes of reaching Europe, a journey fraught with danger and uncertainty. The economic collapse and potential for war in Lebanon are pushing people to take desperate measures, even if it means risking their lives to escape.

Sudanese refugees like Sayed Ibrahim Ahmad face a different set of challenges. Unlike Lebanese nationals, who might have the option to flee to neighboring countries, Sudanese refugees have few places to turn. Ahmad, who has lived in Lebanon since 2000, fears being trapped in a war zone with no way to escape. He worries that those who attempt to flee to Europe often end up back in Lebanon or perish along the way. "Whether in Lebanon or Sudan, I’ll be trapped in a war," Ahmad said, expressing his deep sense of despair.

As the threat of war looms over Lebanon, refugees are left to grapple with an uncertain future. Their stories reveal the deep-seated fears and difficult decisions faced by those who have already lost so much and now stand to lose even more. In a country on the brink of conflict, refugees like Alaa, Bakhri, Mohammad, and Ahmad must find a way to survive, even as the world around them teeters on the edge of disaster.