Caught Between Two Wars

A Syrian Refugee's Struggle in Lebanon

For 43-year-old Abu Jaafar, survival has become a daily fight. A Syrian refugee displaced by the conflict, he is now living on the streets of Beirut with his five children. Having lost everything to the war multiple times, he longs to return to Syria, but the path home seems impossible. His story is one of desperation in the face of unimaginable hardship.

The Sudden Flight from Home

"The shelling around us was intense. My house was severely damaged. We had to evacuate suddenly, unable to take anything with us. After we left, the entire building was flattened, and everything I owned was lost."

In a matter of hours, Abu Jaafar's life was irrevocably changed. Like so many others, his family was forced to flee without a moment's notice, leaving behind memories, a home, and a sense of safety.

For years, Lebanon had offered him and his children refuge from the brutal war in Syria. But now, even that refuge feels fragile. The southern suburbs of Beirut, where he once sought shelter, became a new battleground. He had no choice but to escape again, this time into the streets.

A Father

As a single father, Abu Jaafar's children, aged between 2 and 15, rely on him for everything.

"I've been here for 15 days," he says, gesturing to the small corner of pavement where his family has been sleeping. "Not all shelters are accepting Syrians, and my children and I have nowhere to go."

Winter is approaching, and the streets offer little protection against the cold.

"I don't know how we'll survive. I don't even have money to buy food."

The desperation in his voice is evident. Without access to shelter, food, or basic necessities, Abu Jaafar's children are at risk of hunger and illness. Yet he remains resilient for their sake, refusing to give up.

A Lost Future

Before the recent strikes that devastated his life once again, Abu Jaafar had been working to provide for his family.

"I lost my job because the strikes destroyed the place where I worked," he says.

Like many Syrian refugees in Lebanon, he struggled to find stable employment, often taking up informal work to make ends meet. But now, even that small source of income is gone.

"I wish I had enough money to return to Syria," he says. "But there's nothing left for us there either."

His heart aches for his homeland, but he knows the reality. The little he had left in Syria is now gone, and Lebanon, which once offered hope, has become a place of constant uncertainty.

No Way Out

Abu Jaafar's story mirrors that of countless other refugees stuck between two worlds. They are unable to return to Syria due to the economic devastation but are also facing growing challenges in Lebanon. Refugees like Abu Jaafar live in limbo, caught between the past they fled and an uncertain future.

"Lebanon was our safe haven. How could this happen? They ruined everything."

His words speak to the betrayal felt by many refugees who, after years of surviving one war, now find themselves in another crisis-one of poverty, displacement, and discrimination.

As the days grow colder, Abu Jaafar clings to hope. For now, he and his family wait-hoping for shelter, hoping for a meal, and, most of all, hoping for a better future. But for many like him, time is running out as Lebanon's economic crisis deepens and winter draws near. Help Anera support vital shelters, provide food, water, and medicines to families in Lebanon - donate now and join our call for a ceasefire.

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