“A diary from Lebanon”
LEBANON — Last week (August 13 – 18), as the United Nations-brokered cease-fire between Hezbollah and Israel took hold, giving breathing space to Beirut after a month of fighting, Mike Bassous, General Secretary of the Bible Society in Lebanon, kept a diary of life in the war-torn city…
Sunday
As the date of the cease-fire approaches, Beirut’s suburbs have their worst day of bombing in the current conflict. In the afternoon the noise of the air strikes makes us all jump from our seats: these are new sounds with earthquake effects, roaring for a few seconds then exploding in an unbelievable shaking power. It is hard to believe that any cease-fire is possible after all this. We will see what happens tomorrow at 8 a.m., when it is supposed to take effect.
Monday
After a long and noisy night, the bombing continues until a few minutes before 8 a.m. Then suddenly, just like magic, a miracle happens: it all stops. In the office, the staff prayer meeting concentrates on a lasting ceasefire. This is followed by a tour of our Bible World exhibition for a few displaced boys. The excitement of these boys almost makes us forget what we – and they – have been through in the past month.
Tuesday
An official holiday in celebration of the Feast of Assumption. All the Bible Society staff stay at home today, watching and waiting for a possible collapse of the cease-fire. Two encouraging scenes fill our television screens: thousands of refugees heading back to their villages amid destruction and blown up roads, prompting hope that the cease-fire will last longer than expected; and Catholic Mass is celebrated under the auspices of Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, special envoy of Pope Benedict XVI – a clear indication that the Church is strong in its faith.
Wednesday
After morning prayers, all the staff gather in the warehouse to pack another 500 relief boxes for delivery to various displaced families in Beirut. The cease-fire seems to be holding and more displaced people are heading back to their villages in the south to look at whatever is left of their homes. Many villages are still inaccessible because of Israeli army occupation. It is estimated that 25,000 homes have been destroyed, leaving a few hundred thousand homeless.
Thursday
After being kept out of south Lebanon for more than 30 years, the Lebanese army starts its deployment of 15,000 troops in the area. This is good news and will spread stability on the southern border. Our staff teams go out to distribute relief packages around Beirut. With special permission, a team is able to distribute boxes to the displaced families whose children are being treated at the St. Jude Children’s Cancer Center. These families have suffered the tragedy of war on top of their children’s health problems.
Friday
Fuel and petrol supplies have been allowed into the country and two commercial flights land at Beirut International Airport. These are signs indicating that the siege by air, land and sea is slowly loosening up. Our teams go to south Lebanon, to Jezzine and Sidon, to distribute the relief packages, while Bible World hosts more children still displaced in Beirut. After five days, we can truly witness that this cease-fire is a miracle from God. We give thanks for the many who are lifting up this country and its people in their prayers. (511 words – LEBANON.23.08.06)
Story courtesy United Bible Societies, LATEST NEWS # 366, August 23, 2006
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Please note that the views expressed in this story are not necessarily the views of the American Bible Society. Story posted on August 25th, 2006 and filed under ABS Stories, United Bible Societies.
