“There is a very tense atmosphere everywhere. Today, we have a high number of displaced persons, people who are finding it extremely difficult to leave southern Lebanon and others who still do not know where they can go. The number of displaced persons is constantly increasing: last night, the UN spoke of 30,000 people, but in reality, we had already reached 70,000”. Msgr César Essayan, Apostolic Vicar of Beirut for the Latins (Lebanon), described to SIR the climate currently being experienced in Beirut and throughout the country. “There were also incidents at the Saint Joseph of the Apparition School, where a group forced their way through the doors of the building and caused significant damage”, the Bishop recounts. “It is not the first time: the same thing happened two years ago. Moreover, that school was not among those made available by the government to accommodate displaced persons. The sisters were forcibly removed and the army had to intervene to restore order and allow everyone to find decent shelter, because not all available shelters are truly suitable. These incidents arise from the general tension that affects everyone. It is neither the fault of one side nor the other. We are reliving the nightmare of two years ago, when Israel began its bombing campaign”. “Fortunately”, the Bishop adds, “the government today is somewhat better prepared and has a greater capacity to intervene. As Church, we are trying to do everything possible. Like the Apostolic Vicariate of Beirut, we are very engaged in finding places of refuge for all migrants, particularly women and their families. Most are welcomed by the Jesuits through their organisation; we support them as much as we can”.
Did you expect this escalation?
This entire situation was completely unexpected, especially after the Pope’s visit. We thought we were entering a phase of recovery. Even the statement made by the head of Hezbollah two days ago seemed to confirm this direction: he had said that they would not embark on the path of conflict. We were all more reassured, believing that Lebanon could continue to experience months of peace and tranquillity. And yet, only a few hours later, the decision was taken to launch rockets — pointless rockets — against Israel, which dragged us once again into this absurd situation we now find ourselves in.
Who is paying the highest price in this situation?
Young people, adolescents and children. They are already feeling the psychological consequences of this tragedy: the bombardments are close to their homes, and they hear the gunfire used by the military or by Hezbollah to warn the population of an imminent attack. Let me give you a small example to explain the situation: a member of staff at our social centre has an eight-year-old daughter. When the first bombardment occurred, shots were fired into the air to warn people, and a cartridge fell right near her. She was so frightened that for two days she has been unable to speak. Moreover, at all times, we hear the buzzing of Israeli drones above our heads: a continuous threat, a constant sense of oppression.
It is like living with death always present, hanging over us.
And all this is happening in a Lebanon that indeed appeared calmer, but was nonetheless deeply tried.
The economic situation was already extremely critical and now it is even worse. Before this war broke out, the government had decided to increase the price of petrol by three dollars per 20 litres, and there was also talk of raising VAT and other taxes. But salaries have not been adjusted, bank deposits remain frozen, and the difficulties are exactly the same as before. The population was already suffering, and tension was very high. Even so, people continued to struggle on: we looked to the future with a little more hope, with renewed strength. Today, that strength is gone. We no longer have the desire, or perhaps the inner energy, to say “let us continue to endure”. It is as though, each time we make an effort, someone — out of foolishness or in the interests of another country — sweeps everything away. And we have to begin again from scratch. At a certain point, people grow tired. People are truly tired. And we too, as Church, are sometimes weary. But we must go on. It is a great responsibility that we carry on our shoulders.
Would you like to make an appeal?
An appeal? It is difficult to make one. The only word I feel able to say is:
Enough, enough, enough, enough!
These people must realise that they are not only destroying the lives of those experiencing this tragedy today, but are compromising the future of entire generations. Several Popes have said it: war causes us to lose our humanity — and not only in the immediate term. What is happening today is creating deep wounds in children and young people, wounds that will mark future generations. This is not acceptable. We are building an increasingly wounded humanity. We believe that Christ is here, but He cannot do everything on His own. We too must be present, together with Him, to heal this wounded humanity. But if people do not realise that they can build a different world through their personal, political and electoral decisions, then we will get nowhere.
