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LEBANON: Salesians in El Houssoun take in displaced people

With the escalation between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon*, Salesian missionaries in El Houssoun, located in the Jbeil-Biblo district, have taken in more than 100 displaced people

More than 4,000 people receiving assistance in Salesian programs

(MissionNewswire) With the escalation between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon*, Salesian missionaries in El Houssoun, located in the Jbeil-Biblo district, have taken in more than 100 displaced people. The Salesian center has an elementary and middle school that is now closed. Other Salesian activities have been suspended, such as the Salesian Youth Movement gathering in the Middle East, which was to take place at the Salesian center in El Houssoun in September.

A Salesian noted that the displaced people arrive without anything. He said, “We try to offer them the essentials to live ― a place to sleep, warm clothes, food, a safe place to stay, child care. Psychological assistance for the youngest, who have had their education interrupted, will be very important. More than 9,000 displaced people have arrived in the city and at the Salesian house. We are already taking in more than 100, half of whom are children. We are assisting more than 4,000 in Salesian programs in addition.”

In September, Israel increased attacks on Hezbollah inside Lebanon. Attacks and counter offenses have caused more than 600 deaths and injured more than 2,000 people. There are currently more than 1.2 million people displaced, and there is massive destruction in the south of the country on the border with Israel.

A Salesian explained, “All this is causing the Lebanese population a lot of fear and concern, especially young people, who once again face an insidious and dangerous future. Families are also experiencing this crisis with a deep sense of bewilderment and unease. At the present time there is uncertainty. Opening of schools has been postponed and there has been a massive influx of displaced people from the south.”

The Salesian youth center in El Houssoun, which normally sees hundreds of Christians and Muslims youth, was due to begin soon but has now been postponed for safety reasons. Salesians are continuing to assess the situation to see when they can reopen the school, as well as the Don Bosco Technique Technical High School in Fidar and the Angels of Peace School for Iraqi refugees in Beirut.

Lebanon is in the middle of a deepening economic crisis that has pushed more than 80% percent of the population into conditions of poverty. Marginalized communities, including seniors, children and refugees, have been disproportionately impacted by the worsening economic conditions that are affecting public services, including education and health care.

Lebanon is also dealing with more than 1.5 million refugees who have fled the Syrian civil war, according to U.N. High Comissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Close to 90% of those are living in extreme poverty and don’t even have enough to meet their basic needs. Salesian missionaries have been working in Lebanon since 1952 and currently have two centers. The one center in Fidar has Don Bosco Technique and a youth center. The Salesian community in El Houssoun has an oratory and a reception house that has been housing Catholic refugees since the start of the war in Syria.

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Sources:

ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS) 

ANS – Lebanon – Salesians in a context of war

ANS – Lebanon – The emergency in the Middle East and the situation of displaced persons and refugees in Lebanon: a double exodus fleeing from one war to another

UNHCR – Lebanon

Salesian Missions

World Bank – Lebanon

*Any goods, services, or funds provided by Salesian Missions to programs located in this country were administered in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control.

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