The president of the Lebanese Association of the Order of Malta has promised broad and unconditional support now and in the future to a dozen mayors and representatives of border villages of southern Lebanon meeting recently in Aïn el-Remmaneh, a Christian suburb of Beirut. Marwan Sehnaoui: “Your suffering is ours; your courage inspires us.”
By Marie Duhamel
The group of border village leaders of southern Lebanon made the visit to Beirut “despite the difficulties and uncertainties” into which the war that resumed on March 2nd has once again thrown them. As fighting rages between Hezbollah and Israel—now threatening to occupy southern Lebanon—around ten mayors and representatives of southern border villages set out last Tuesday March 31 to reach the capital Beirut, coming from Rmeich, Aïn Ebel, Qwazah, Yaroun, Alma al-Shaab, Jdeidet Marjayoun and Qlayaa.
“An act of courage,” said the president of the Order of Malta in Lebanon, Marwan Sehnaoui, who welcomed them along with much of his team. The Order brought them together during Holy Week to move from darkness to the light and hope offered by the Resurrection, announcing an increase in huminatarian efforts to enable them also in the long term to remain firmly on their land and live dignified lives.
The president of the Order of Malta in Lebanon and his collaborators together with the mayors of border towns (Ordine di Malta)
Unwavering solidarity
Present in the country of the cedars since 1953, the Order of Malta has been increasingly active in southern Lebanon since 1980, investing in various social and healthcare centers, mobile clinics providing care for women and cardiological services, soup kitchens, and “agro-humanitarian” projects, as the country now imports 80% of what it consumes. The Order promises to expand these efforts “at any cost.” One of its volunteers was recently killed in a bombing in the south.
On Tuesday, a “mobilization of resources” and advocacy actions were announced. “You can consider us your ambassadors, determined to carry your voice and your needs wherever we go,” Marwan Sehnaoui told those present.
A medical visit at an Order of Malta center in Rmeich (Ordine di Malta)
Assessment of needs
Concretely, at the end of the Easter holidays, a committee of independent experts will be established. It will work in collaboration with local leaders to develop a “tailor-made and sustainable” plan. Today, “they truly need everything,” notes Marwan Sehnaoui, but the goal is to go beyond emergency response and ensure long-term autonomy for southern villages and communities, “because one day this war will end,” he assures.
Everything still needs to be defined, but several avenues are emerging: continuing and expanding the work of medical-social centers by equipping them with better facilities and care, to provide comprehensive assistance to residents, with particular attention to the elderly and people with disabilities. “God alone knows that after this war the number of people with disabilities will have increased,” reflects the president of the Order in Lebanon with bitterness. It is also necessary to plan civil or specialized education projects to rebuild and ensure employment, as work is a decisive factor in keeping communities on their land.
“We must have the courage of faith, not give up, and risk everything to help them,” concludes Marwan Sehnaoui.
Delivery of medicines and distribution of essential goods in the village of Rmeich (Ordine di Malta)
