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Lebanon Diary Part X

Saide Chaar and 22 other Liberians and Lebanese-Liberians have been seeking a way out of Beirut for nearly three weeks. They are among some 50 Liberians trapped in the besieged city. Unlike Western countries that are evacuating their nationals, Liberia’s recently elected post-war government was unable to offer help to its citizens. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) is helping migrant workers, many of whom are African, to travel to Syria and then onward to their countries of origin. “IOM cannot evacuate anyone if there are no assurances that a host country will allow them to enter and reside there until their next destination is identified,” said Jemini Pandya, an IOM spokesperson in Geneva. The Liberians, like Chaar, fear returning to their home country. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said it is relocating refugees in Lebanon to safer areas within the country. “There has been evacuation inside the country,” said Stephane Jaquemet, UNHCR’s representative in Lebanon. “We have relocated people to other places safe in Lebanon where there is no shelling.” As for the Liberians, he said, “We can try to assist them to go to one of these collection centres for displaced Lebanese in Lebanon.” IRIN has been documenting the plight of Chaar, 25, his fiancé, Marcelle Bedran, 19, and their family through daily phone conversations that are published in narrative form. IRIN interviewed Chaar and compiled Part 10 of an ongoing diary of the family’s life in Beirut. Charr said UNHCR called him on Friday after IRIN spoke to Jaquemet to inquire about his status and that of his family. 4 August 2006 - They told me to come to the office on Monday and they will see what they can do - I should just get there and explain my problem to them. We can register with them as refugees. I’ll wait for another Monday if we’ll stay alive. At least there are people trying to help. Last night there was no way to sleep. Every time they send one bomb the whole house shakes from the vibration, the sound. Levi (who is 12 months old) was screaming and crying and crying. (A bomb fell) like 600 metres away. Some Lebanese died. This morning, where the explosion was, there was the fire service trying to clean up the street. I was going to go out and get some food but I was afraid and didn’t go out all day. There are soldiers all over the streets. We’re just waiting to see if they retaliate, the Hezbollah, and how is Israel going to respond back. cs/ccr

This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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