Sister Maya El Beaino of the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary decided to stay with the Christian community in Aid Ebel, 3 miles from the Israeli border despite the “constant danger”.
She told the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need that there are around 9000 Christians in three local villages despite only three hours of electricity a day and very little water:
“Everyone talks about the people who have fled because of the attacks, but no one speaks about the many Christians who have stayed, because they are afraid of losing their homes for ever.
“It’s true that many left the region at the beginning of the Gaza war in October 2023, but many families have come back to their homes, because life in Beirut was too expensive and many could not bear the separation from the Fathers who had remained alone back in the south.”
Sister El Beaino explained that the only Catholic school in the region – ran by her congregation for children from 32 surrounding villages – has moved to online teaching because of the armed conflict.
She added: “The situation is simply terrible. People are still carrying trauma from the war in 2006 and there is a big fear that bridges and roads will be bombed again .”
Over the past months, ACN has provided food parcels to thousands of families and medical help to 500 people who have stayed in southern Lebanon despite the dangers.
Regina Lynch, ACN (International) executive president has called for prayers for the people of southern Lebanon – including the victims of the war and those who have been displaced – and for an end to the violence.