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Maya Abdallah, Lebanon "His body was completely burnt"

[Lebanon] A bombed out truck on the road between the Beqaa Valley and Beirut. [Date picture taken: 08/04/2006] Christian Henderson/IRIN

An extended family came under Israeli fire as they were fleeing Marwahin in south Lebanon on 15 July. Of the 27 people in the truck, 23 died. Maya Abdallah, 18, lost many family members in the attack.

“My mother took my brother and sister along with several other relatives from our home in Beirut to spend a few days’ holiday in our native town in the south, Marwahin. I stayed behind with my aunt, while my father was in Sidon.

“Following the attack on Marwahin, my family tried to escape. They were in a pick-up truck when they were bombed. Out of 27 people on the truck, 23 died, including my five-year-old brother Ahmed. His body was completely burnt. My 13-year-old sister was also killed, as were my cousin, my uncle, my niece and her children.

“My eight-year-old sister Marwa survived, with injuries to her arm and burns to her face. Now we’re being looked after in the Madame Neame School in Beirut. Much as they’re being good to us, it’s not like being home. We’ve lost so much.”

SA/LS/ED


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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