The intense bombardment of southern Beirut will be remembered as one of the darkest moments in Lebanon’s recent history. It was at 3am that violence descended on the cosmopolitan city. Images of devastation and fear followed one another, showing the local population desperately seeking refuge and safety.
As one walked through the city’s streets, one could see heartbreaking scenes. Entire families, driven from their homes by Israeli airstrikes, were homeless, sleeping on the sidewalks or seeking shelter in abandoned buildings. The normally bustling streets of Beirut were filled with cars overloaded with people fleeing the inferno that had descended on their neighbourhoods.
The residents displayed a mixture of bravery and anxiety that was hard to conceal. Some women, seemingly reassuring, tried to hide their fears in order to protect their children. The solidarity and mutual aid were palpable, with citizens opening their doors to the displaced, sharing what they had to help those in need.
Meanwhile, the Israeli army continued its offensive, ordering the evacuation of still intact neighborhoods in South Beirut. The residents of Bourj el Barajneh, among the most vulnerable in the city, were forced to flee in the face of the imminent threat of bombardment. Tensions were at their peak, the fate of the city’s residents hanging on these ruthless military decisions.
The night dragged on endlessly for the residents of Beirut, uncertainty looming over the future of their homes, their city and their loved ones. Images of destruction and despair were broadcast on a loop on television screens, testifying to the tragedy that had struck the city and its inhabitants.
While waiting for better days, the residents of Beirut remained united and determined to overcome this nightmare. Strength and determination mingled with sadness and helplessness, forming a striking picture of human resilience in the face of adversity. The whole world watched with deep empathy the tragic fate of this once vibrant and alive city.
The night was advancing, dawn was timidly breaking on the horizon, bringing with it the hope of renewal, of a reconstruction necessary to heal the still open wounds of Beirut.