Desperate messages from Lebanon

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Pat Gaffney, former General Secretary of Pax Christi writes:

The paradox of our time is that we can be in immediate contact with someone on the other side of the world... yet be living in totally different contexts. This is where I am just now, with Palestinian friends living for more than 14 years in Saida, South Lebanon. I am in 'messenger' contact and as the conflict escalates, messages become ever more urgent. They have given me permission to share their responses.

Mid August.

There are no flights available out of Beirut for the week ahead. We have decided to hang on here for the next few weeks. A similar environment prevailed last October-November. But now the threat seems real and the past 10 months have shown that there is no safe place when it comes to this war. We will try to leave as soon as we can if the war does not end. Our children (young teens) are responsible and disciplined enough to deal with changes and adaptation. Will keep you up-dated.

Early September

We are so worried, nervous and anxious but we are still OK. We are safe. The schools were supposed to start this week but now that is postponed. The situation has never been so tense. The bombings have never been so indiscriminate.

Last week

Saida did not have as many bombings as the rest of the southern areas of Lebanon. There were three targeted cars last month. Two of them are meters away from the school But Tuesday was hell. Saida is a hospital/medical hub. Trails of ambulances were coming and going, carrying young men who are now blinded and limbless. What peace will come after this! What stability and hope! Only God can stop this madness.

My elderly parents are near the major hospital in Saida. They had a complete breakdown. From their flat they could see the bleeding, wounded men on the floor of the hospital's front yard, because there is no space inside. The madness is unbearable. Generation after generation, lives lost and countries destroyed. They are ok and safe otherwise.

This week

Pat writes: Much can change in one day in times of war. My friend in Saida expresses her concern as the war comes closer to her home and family. A confident, articulate woman is reduced to the powerlessness of fear.

Oh, hell's gates have opened today in Saida. After some delay today was the first day school was open. Early in the morning there was bombing in the south. Some parents did not send their children to school. By 11am bombing had come closer and become harsher nearer to where we are in Saida. By noon the school sent messages to collect the students. A five minute journey took two hours. It was only because an ambulance was behind us that we could even move the car. The roads around Saida are completely blocked. Families fleeing the areas because of all the shelling. So many of our school friends and families are now displaced looking for flats to stay in. The government arranged for some schools to be shelter locations. The situation is very scary and getting worse.

(I asked if they could find a way out via the airport)

The road to the airport is completely blocked - it seems like most people are on the roads. The option for now is to stay still at home.

The airport had so many flights cancelled in the past few days and I expect they will continue to cancel flights. Tickets to nearby destinations are all sold out and there is no guarantee if we do get a ticket that we would be able to reach Beirut or that the plane would in fact fly out. We will wait and see how every hour will pass.

I am sorry I cannot be well versed in how I write this. This is a venting off window for me!

I feel that I want to sob uncontrollably. Fall apart, just break down. There is a drowning feeling of immense silence and institutionalized injustice in the circles of decision makers around the world.

LINKS

Pat Gaffney on Facebook: www.facebook.com/pat.gaffney.94

Twitter @scutumfero