By Mohammed Zaatari
SHEBAA, Lebanon: Hiam Nasreddine broke into tears as she recounted how her family reached the southern border town of Shebaa after fleeing their war-torn hometown of Beit Jin in rural Damascus.
Like thousands of other Syrians, Nasreddine fled the raging battles in Syria, and the almost regular shelling in her rural hometown, to seek safety in the village of Shebaa in Lebanon, which faces Mount Haramoun and is overlooked by Israeli observation posts to the east. Part of the land, known as Shebaa Farms, has been occupied by the Israeli army since 1967.
Since the beginning of this year, the village has served as an arrival station for Syrian refugees. More than 600 families have arrived from Syria on foot or on donkeys.
The Lebanese Army has erected posts to observe the routes used by the refugees entering the country. Last week more than 30 families crossed the rough mountainous terrains on their long journey to Shebaa, after crossing the border.
“We have been saved by taking the rough road. Fear was our companion every step of the way. We had to hide to avoid getting shot by the Syrian army, and then by Israeli soldiers from their posts. We had to be aware of fierce animals like hyenas and wolves. We left our homes at nightfall, it was a 12 hour journey full of horrors,” said Nasreddine, who arrived in Shebaa three days ago.
She resides with her family in a substandard building, still under construction. Several local charities provide her basic needs.
Her husband, Ibrahim, said “the Syrian checkpoints don’t differentiate between stones and humans. We couldn’t believe we managed to reach Lebanon alive, after walking for 12 hours. My baby girl Hanan was crying all the way there and kept asking us: ‘Are we going to die?’”
Hanan is in the sixth grade, and she hopes she will be able to enroll in school this year.
“In Syria people have no water, not even bread ... there is no life, people are dying on the streets. My wife’s hand was injured. The United States should bomb the regime forces; they will not kill the civilians,” Nasreddine added.
In Shebaa, uninhabited houses, shops and basements, used by the villagers to store winter goods, have been turned into reception areas for refugees.
The Daawa Islamiya Center, under the umbrella of Al-Jamaa al-Islamiya, is a four-story building which has been sectioned off into rooms for refugees. Tents have also been erected in the halls for families.
Marc Ghader, social officer for Al-Jamaa al-Islamiya in Shebaa, told The Daily Star: “We offered shelter in the center for Syrian refugees, and we keep providing them with substantial financial aid, but the situation is increasingly surpassing our capabilities, those of the municipality and other charities. The problem is growing and the situation in Syria is getting worse. Syrians have no other place to go now that winter is approaching.”
During the winter months, snowfall can reach up to 3 meters high in the area, he says.
At the entrance of the complex, Umm Mohammad al-Masri was burning pieces of wood and cardboard boxes to start a fire so she could cook boiled potatoes for lunch.
Next to the potato pot there was another pot of water heating over the fire, for the children’s bath later.
“We fled our village Beit Jin months ago, and today more of our relatives arrived here, fleeing the hell in Beit Jin where death still chases those who live there,” she said.
Though they are safe from bombardment in Shebaa, they still face hardships, she said. “The situation here is becoming harsh. The municipality, local and international charities and organizations have provided us with essential needs, but how can this continue? Everyone should realize the dangers looming in the future.”
Abu Mohammad, who is considered the mukhtar of the complex, said “many more will come from Syria soon, as more villages in the rural suburbs of Damascus are being bombarded, such as Beit Jin, Hina, Tirbil, Kfar Hour and Batima.”
“We thank all those who have helped and given us shelter, but we have to get ready to receive more refugees. We fear that we won’t find them enough places to reside in here,” he added.
Amira Okasha was preparing stuffed pickled eggplants for the winter months. “Soon, snow, winter blizzards and storms will prevent us from leaving this place. We have to be prepared because I have seven children to take care of,” she said.
Mariam al-Saadi, who is in her 70s, was making cheese to feed her family of 12. “I am making cheese for our meals. I am afraid that the war will be long. We fled our home months ago and the situation back home has not improved since we arrived,” she said.
Salam al-Ahmad, whose son is fighting with the Syrian opposition, said: “May God curse Bashar Assad, who destroyed the country, killed his people and committed massacres. He should be eliminated, and stability should be restored to Syria.”
A Shebaa municipality representative tasked with following up on refugees, Ali Khatib, said the area was unable to give the refugees more support. “We have welcomed the refugees in Shebaa, but we have reached a stage where we can no longer offer more help,” he said.
“We have 600 families residing in the village, 70 of which arrived here in the past 20 days,” he added.
“With 3,000 refugees, the number of Syrians now surpasses Lebanese residents. The humanitarian and social situation is deteriorating rapidly. We are not the United Nations. We have spent LL100 million to fuel generators to provide refugees with electricity, and in a few months’ time winter will come. I don’t know how we will get the necessary funds to keep them warm then.”
“The municipality can no longer provide aid for the 600 families [3,000 refugees]. We have launched a humanitarian and moral appeal to all relevant countries to help us, as we fear more refugees will come. Those who are fleeing death should be provided with the necessities to live. If the international strike is launched against Syria thousands of refugees will be displaced, and we can’t afford to provide aid to thousands of refugees,” he said.
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11/09/2013
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