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Maarouf, a young man from a village in Sidon, Southern Lebanon, is still grappling with the aftermath of a terrifying night. On July 20th, his home was directly hit by an airstrike.
“I was with my family, gathered in the living room like every night. Then, we heard the sound of an explosion which was so close and very strong. Everyone started screaming, and some of us ran to the roof to see what was happening. I remember that my brother-in-law and my parents stayed in the house. As soon as we reached the roof and saw the fire burning on the coastal road, the sounds started to increase and get stronger. The next thing we knew was that a projectile hit our house,” Maarouf recounted.
The airstrike caused immense damage to the house but miraculously did not explode. “I was very afraid for my family. We started running towards the house; the scene was indescribable. We are all fine, but the destruction was in the walls and rooms as what hit us passed through and broke four walls in the house,” he explained. With the living room, dining room, and kitchen rendered uninhabitable, the family sought refuge at Maarouf’s sister’s home.
The night his family fled was a relentless barrage of explosions. “That night, things were hitting and devastating many houses in the village; it was a nightmare for all of us,” Maarouf said. The ordeal has had a profound impact on his family. “Many people got injured; my brother-in-law, who stayed in the house with my parents while I went to the roof to see what was happening, lost his sight in one eye. Currently, he needs surgery to restore his sight,” he shared.
Heart for Lebanon has provided Maarouf and his family with essential food and cleaning supplies as they work to rebuild their lives. Beyond the physical necessities, the care package represented a connection to a wider community. It was a message of hope, a testament to the kindness of strangers. This newfound sense of support bolstered Maarouf’s resilience and strengthened his family’s determination to rebuild their lives.
