Once renowned for its stunning landscapes and pristine environment, Lebanon was especially famous for its captivating Cedar Nature Reserve, which left visitors in awe. Its strategic location along the Mediterranean coast helped the country thrive, earning it the nickname "Switzerland of the Middle East." The writer Jan Morris once described Lebanon as "a charming place in the Arab world." Today, however, this nation teetering on the brink of full-scale war has been reduced to nothing but suffering.

The Hezbollah-Israel conflict has dragged on for over a year, with Israeli ground military operations causing a sharp escalation. Tensions escalated significantly on September 17 after the pager explosion incident in Lebanon.

On September 27, Israeli fighter jets launched an air strike on Hezbollah headquarters in Beirut, Lebanon's capital, resulting in the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

On October 1, Israeli forces entered Lebanon, conducting ground operations for the first time in 18 years, targeting Hezbollah military positions.

As of Monday, Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health announced that the Lebanon-Israel conflict has claimed 2,483 Lebanese lives and left 11,628 others wounded.

Behind these numbers, what does life truly look like for ordinary Lebanese people? What sustains their lives amid such hardship? Thirty-seven-year-old Elie Farhat has lived through multiple wars in Lebanon. From Farhat's accounts, we gain a vivid and harrowing glimpse into the true state of Lebanon.

An economy in crisis

The country has yet to recover since the unprecedented financial and economic crisis erupted in Lebanon in 2019. While the conflict before October was largely confined to southern Lebanon, the country's tourism industry suffered a dramatic collapse after many nations adjusted their travel advisories last year, warning their citizens to "avoid travel" to Lebanon. Even before Israel launched its ground military operations, hotel occupancy rates on weekdays had plunged by an unprecedented 80 percent, with weekend bookings falling by 30 to 50 percent.

Following the escalation of the Hezbollah-Israel conflict, nearly all economic activity in the country has ground to a halt. According to Farhat, "Unlike during the pandemic, people can't work from home now; most can't even stay at home. Most businesses have completely shut down to minimize risk."

Lebanon's already fragile economy and the escalating regional conflict have further exacerbated the country's dire electricity supply issue. Lebanon's electrical infrastructure, heavily damaged during the civil war from 1975 to 1990, was already struggling before the conflict intensified. The country's sole state-run electricity company could only provide four to six hours of power a day, and nowadays, even one to two hours of electricity is becoming a rare luxury. People are forced to rely on expensive and highly polluting generators for the remaining hours. Amid the ongoing conflict, fuel shortages and the continuous rise in diesel prices have plunged large urban areas into darkness.

The humanitarian crisis worsens

On October 18, Nasser Yassin, Lebanon's Minister of Environment and coordinator for the Emergency Committee, said that of the 1,098 shelters set up by the government to house displaced persons, 902 are fully saturated. Currently, 191,501 displaced individuals are temporarily residing in these official shelters.

Farhat explained that due to the government's inability to control prices, the few supermarkets still operating have seen skyrocketing prices, making it difficult for even those with some savings to afford food and basic necessities, and the supply in supermarkets is severely lacking.

"People can buy at most a bottle of water, not a case. Israel has cut off Lebanon's main route to Syria, which typically plays a crucial role in both people and goods movement," Farhat said.

Currently, the streets of Beirut are filled with homeless men, women and children sleeping outdoors. "We're not talking about the poor; we're talking about those who once lived in beautiful homes, attended good schools, and drove nice cars. Just five minutes after receiving an evacuation call, they find themselves on the streets, becoming homeless," Farhat explained.

Severe talent drain creates challenges for reconstruction

With a population of about 6 million, Lebanon has over 15 million expatriates abroad, making it one of the few countries where the diaspora outnumbers the local population. The escalation of conflict has forced more individuals to leave their homes, triggering an even larger wave of emigration. Even if the fighting were to cease immediately, the loss of talent and the labor shortage would undermine Lebanon's ability to rebuild from within.

In the Middle East, Lebanese doctors, engineers, entrepreneurs, teachers, and even artists are well-regarded. However, many of them have chosen to develop their careers in Europe, North America and the Gulf region. Farhat decided to leave Lebanon for Dubai 15 years ago. Initially, his parents were against it, believing that the conflict had ended and hoping their son would stay close. However, after renewed clashes between Israeli and Lebanese soldiers along the temporary border in 2010, their attitude shifted, and they were relieved he had left.

On one side are the young people leaving in droves, and on the other are the older generations reluctant to move. Farhat notes that his parents are among those who choose to stay due to their deep-rooted affection for their homeland. Despite the turmoil, they are determined to remain.

"They worry that if they leave, their home will be occupied, and if everyone departs, Israel might take over the entire country," Farhat explained. "Lebanon is their homeland, their land, the place where their family and friends are, and where their roots and memories are buried."

The lasting wounds on the Lebanese people

Lebanon covers just over 10,000 square kilometers. Before the escalation of conflict, Israeli air strikes and artillery primarily targeted southern Lebanon, with less impact on the capital, Beirut, allowing many to flee north. However, the intensification of conflict has left them with "nowhere to run."

Farhat specifically mentioned that the entire country was caught off guard by the sudden escalation of conflict, lacking the bomb shelters common in developed nations to prepare for airstrikes. When airstrikes occur, all most Lebanese can do is pray.

In this environment, maintaining the illusion of a normal life in front of children has become a challenge for every Lebanese parent. Farhat shared that when he returned to Lebanon in August, he heard many parents comforting their children, saying, "Don't worry, the bombs won't hit us. It's okay. We'll adapt to all of this soon."

On October 1, Iran launched a large-scale missile attack on Israel, raising concerns among the Lebanese people about the possibility of their country being dragged into another prolonged regional conflict. Farhat said many Lebanese are already exhausted by domestic issues and feel increasingly anxious and fearful about this new crisis. Nevertheless, the hope and resilience of the country remain intact. "They are just waiting – waiting for the war to end and for a new chapter to begin."

Supervisor: Mu Li

Producer: Li Chao