Lebanon: Bread, bravery, and resilience – a Palestinian refugee’s tale of triumph amidst conflict

Many Palestinians are far from home and among them is Ibtisam, who is carving out a new life for herself and her children in crisis-stricken Lebanon.

Ibtisam’s life as a Palestinian refugee in Lebanon is a stark reminder of the pervasive crisis that has echoed through the region for decades. The recent horrific violence in Gaza has torn through the delicate fabric of her life in Lebanon. “The war seems to have crossed borders, invading our reality here,” Ibtisam shares, her voice laced with the anxiety that has become a relentless shadow for many in her community.

For Ibtisam and other refugees in Lebanon, this is not merely a tale of personal loss and hardship: it is a harrowing echo of the reasons they became refugees in the first place. The barrage of news stories about Gaza are chilling reminders of the violence her parents and extended family fled in 1948, underscoring the persistent sense of instability that defines their lives.

The atmosphere in Bekaa governorate in Lebanon is saturated with despair, the air thick with the uncertainty that has long gripped our people,” Ibtisam says, capturing the profound sense of disquiet common to many Palestinians.

Her narrative is just a thread in the broader tapestry of Palestinian refugees’ experiences worldwide, particularly in neighbouring countries like Lebanon, where many face dire living conditions and uncertain futures amid the country’s spiralling economic crisis.

Struggling to provide for her family

For Ibtisam, the echoes of violence in Palestine resonate through her current struggles. The trauma of her family’s flight from their home in 1948 has been a constant shadow in her life, a shadow that grew darker with the loss of her husband in a car accident in 2017. This personal bereavement is intertwined with the historical pain of displacement, with each current outbreak of violence in her homeland reawakening the acute trauma of her past losses.

Now, in Saadnayel, Lebanon, Ibtisam faces the daily challenges of raising her 3 young boys alone in a building that shelters many refugee families like hers. Her struggle to provide for her children’s basic necessities amidst the lingering grief of her husband’s absence is a testament to her resilience. In this relentless battle, the support provided by Islamic Relief’s orphan sponsorship programme has been a beacon of hope, helping to ease the burdens of a life marked by loss and displacement.

But Ibtisam is resilient. In 2020, she joined a bakery training programme run by a local charity, and this would set her on an exciting new path. Here, she learned not just the art of baking, but also essential business management skills, finding solace and purpose in her new craft.

A turnaround with Islamic Relief’s support

By 2023, with Islamic Relief’s intervention in providing culinary equipment and supplies, Ibtisam’s bakery business began booming. Her bakery, starting within the refugee building, quickly gained a loyal customer base, improving her family’s living conditions and opening up educational and healthcare opportunities for her children.

Ibtisam’s bakery, while a personal triumph, also reflects the broader struggles and resilience of Palestinian refugees. The recent Israel-Gaza crisis has not only intensified these existing challenges but has also set in motion a psychological ripple effect felt deeply among the Palestinian community in Lebanon. Many, like Ibtisam, have family ties to Gaza, and the conflict stirs fears that the violence could spill over into Lebanon. This pervasive anxiety has tangible impacts, undermining the productivity and well-being of refugees as they contend with the potential escalation of conflict around them.

Skills, purpose, and hope for refugee women

Ibtisam’s bakery is more than a business; it’s a symbol of resilience amidst a backdrop of uncertainty and a shared history of displacement. By employing other women, Ibtisam helped them develop both skills and a new sense of purpose, turning her establishment into a symbol of communal resilience and empowerment.

Today, Ibtisam stands as a beacon of hope, not just for her family but for the broader community of Palestinian refugees. Her story is a testament to the unyielding spirit of those who overcome their challenges to build a better future.

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