Beirut Suburb Residents Live in Fear Between Displacement and Return

The southern suburbs of Beirut are experiencing a state of turmoil and displacement following recent Israeli threats of strikes. Schools were evacuated, parents rushed to collect their children, and many residents fled their homes, echoing scenes of repeated displacement over recent months. Although the immediate threat was lifted, a pervasive anxiety remains, leaving residents without a sense of safety.

“

The home, which once represented the safe space people turned to in fear or danger, has now become one of the sources of anxiety

Layla Hassan described how the latest threat has left a lasting impact, transforming the question from 'when' a strike might occur to 'how' to live under constant expectation. She noted that the natural bond between people and their homes has been radically altered. "The home, which once represented the safe space people turned to in fear or danger, has now become one of the sources of anxiety," she told Asharq Al-Awsat. The prospect of returning home, she added, feels more complicated than leaving, especially for those responsible for families.

Fatima Shams has not returned to the southern suburbs since the latest threat. She stated that "the Lebanese are living today in a state of constant anticipation that has made fear part of the daily routine. Every morning begins with a different question, but the meaning is the same, will this day pass safely?" She recounted how the threat disrupted daily life, forcing parents to leave work to pick up children from schools amidst traffic and fear of security developments.

“

the Lebanese are living today in a state of constant anticipation that has made fear part of the daily routine. Every morning begins with a different question, but the meaning is the same, will this day pass safely?

"The hardest thing people are living through is not only the fear of strikes, but the constant feeling of instability," Shams said. "Families are no longer able to plan their day or their week, because any new warning can overturn everything." The danger now feels less confined to one area, as warnings and tensions have spread across different parts of Lebanon, intensifying the widespread insecurity. This constant anticipation is wearing people down, making the mere feeling of safety a primary goal, even at the cost of their former lives.

“

The hardest thing people are living through is not only the fear of strikes, but the constant feeling of instability. Families are no longer able to plan their day or their week, because any new warning can overturn everything.