TESTIMONY

War in Gaza: in the Dbayeh camp, the Palestinian diaspora in Lebanon in anguish

The war in Gaza is plunging the Palestinian diaspora into anguish, including in Lebanon.

Palestinian refugees have family in the enclave under bombs.

This is the case in the Dbayeh camp, north of Beirut, where Christian Palestinians live.

The Christian minority in Gaza numbered around 1,000 people before the war.

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General view of the Dbayeh refugee camp, north of Beirut, December 21, 2022. AP - Bilal Hussein

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With our special correspondent in Dbayeh

,

Laure Stephan

With its small houses, the Palestinian camp of Dbayeh resembles a village.

This is where Georgette al-Masri, 39, lives.

She spent her childhood and youth in

Gaza

, and her parents did not leave the enclave.

They had to flee to Rafah, on the border with Egypt: “ 

I sometimes spend the day calling before managing to reach my parents.

Once, I didn't hear from him for ten days.

They suffer a lot.

For the second time in their lives, they lost their home in Gaza.

 »

“I want my parents to leave Gaza”

Saada Ghattas, another resident of the camp, lost an aunt and a cousin killed in Gaza.

His other relatives are still in the big northern city.

“ 

My cousins ​​took refuge in the Latin church,

” she said

.

From October 7, the priest opened the doors to neighbors, Christians and Muslims.

My family's homes in Gaza City were destroyed.

I worry a lot about them.

I say to myself: “Even if the war ends, where will they go?”

 »

Georgette al-Masri experienced conflicts and crises while living in Gaza.

But nothing compares to the current war.

“ 

I want my parents to leave Gaza, I want the war to stop,”

she said.

That's enough !

We Palestinians have already lost so much!

So many people have been killed, so many people are hungry.

In previous conflicts, Gaza was not under siege: food and medical care were available.

This time, Gaza is under siege, and civilians are paying a high price

.

»

Read alsoLebanon: refugees could represent almost half of the population in 2038, according to a study

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  • Gaza

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