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Beirut -

“Mother’s Day” or as some call it “Mother’s Day” has arrived this year, bringing with it grief and pain in the hearts of mothers in Lebanon, some of whom lost their loved ones in southern Lebanon, as a result of the Israeli attacks on the border areas, and those who were deprived of their children after they chose to emigrate. As a way to secure a living, as a result of the worst economic and living crises that the country has witnessed.

As for the mothers in the refugee camps, nothing is added to their routine day on this day, after it has been deleted from their life schedule, in solidarity with the mothers of Gaza whose sons were lost or martyred, while there are other mothers who have become displaced, after being forced to flee from the southern border towns, To safer areas for the safety of their children.

Mother's Day this year brings the mother of the martyr Muhammad Azzam a grief and loss that cannot be overcome (Al Jazeera)

Separation is a common factor

She carried roses for her son and embraced his picture in the frame. The mother of the martyr Muhammad Azzam, who was martyred in southern Lebanon at the beginning of this year at the hands of the Israeli occupation forces, says, “This is the first Mother’s Day that I have passed without him. It is very difficult to part. Every second and every hour I remember him, and I am patient.” And I say: Praise be to God, my son is a martyr. He raised our heads, and God makes me one of the patient ones.” She added, "He was kind and helpful and helped everyone, and all I have left of my son's scent is Omar, his little son who looks a lot like him."

Death is not the only thing that snatches children from their mothers in Lebanon, as the repercussions of economic and living crises have placed some mothers in the category of losing their children, as a result of their distance from them, due to migration in search of a decent life and a better future.

This year, Umm Muhammad celebrates Mother’s Day for the first time with her son via screen due to immigration (Al Jazeera)

Hajja Suhair Al-Ashqar (Umm Muhammad), a mother of 7 children, says, “Nine years ago, my daughter traveled to Germany. Mother’s Day came and she was not with me, but this is the first holiday that comes and my son Muhammad, whom she gave birth to after 20 years outside the country as well.”

With emotion, she adds, "This year I will celebrate with him through the screen. I cannot embrace him or hug him. The only thing I can do is go to his closet and smell the scent of his clothes. In this country he has no future, and the conditions in the country have burned our hearts. I cannot tell him to go back to the country." Threatened by bombing and war.

Umm Zuhair asked her children not to buy her a gift and not to celebrate it in solidarity with the mothers of Gaza (Al Jazeera)

Refugee mothers

Umm Muhammad’s feeling of missing the joy of this day is shared by many Palestinian refugee women, who were unable to celebrate this year, amid the tragedies suffered by mothers in Gaza.

Hajja Samira Halloum (Umm Zuhair), a mother of 7 children, told Al Jazeera Net, “I am a Palestinian refugee in Lebanon, and I cannot celebrate Mother’s Day today, and I asked my children not to buy me gifts and other things, so how can I celebrate when our hearts are burning in Palestine?”

In a hoarse voice filled with sorrow, she says, "Palestinian mothers in Gaza are divided among the mothers of the martyrs, the missing, or the wounded. Some of them were unable even to bury their son or bid him farewell. They are losing the most precious thing they have, their children." She added, "There is no Mother's Day, Ramadan, or other holidays that bring us joy in light of what is happening in Gaza."

The displaced Umm Hamdi has not celebrated Mother’s Day for 5 years due to the difficult living and economic conditions (Al Jazeera)

The condition of Umm Zuhair is not much different from the condition of the displaced Syrian, Alia Qassem (Umm Hamdi). This occasion brings with it grief, tears, and heavy feelings. She tells Al Jazeera Net, “Five years ago I forgot what Mother’s Day means, so how can I celebrate when I am far from my home and living in tragic circumstances?” At all social, economic and living levels.”

She adds with excitement, "Motherhood is no longer a symbol only for giving birth and raising children. Rather, in these circumstances, it has turned into a struggle and a task that requires a lot. All I hope for is that my children will live in better conditions, and that we will return to our home, and that family reunions and holiday gatherings will return."

The prices of a bouquet of roses on Mother’s Day range between two million and 15 million Lebanese pounds (Al Jazeera)

beyond possible

At a flower shop, the young man, Jawdat Al-Dimassi, asks the seller about their prices, and he replies, “A rose costs 200 thousand liras, and a bouquet of roses starts at two million, and may reach 15 million.” Jawdat remains silent for a while, trying to choose what suits his monthly salary, and negotiates with the shop owner to reduce the price. He says in amazement, “If my salary is 3 million a month, how can I buy a bouquet of flowers at these prices? There is also a candy bar and a gift!”

As for the prices of gifts, they have become surprising, as they have reached crazy levels, according to the young woman Fatima Issa, who said, “The cheapest piece of clothing is two million liras, and the prices of all goods have tripled during Mother’s Day, and the price of the smallest candy bar enough for 6 people has reached 3 million.” ".

Citizen Fatima Issa told Al Jazeera Net: Gift prices reached crazy levels on Mother’s Day (Al Jazeera)

Source: Al Jazeera