Syria: Between Borders and Displacement... Zakieh's Steps in Search of Safety
Since the escalation of hostilities in Lebanon began, thousands of people have crossed into Syria through border crossings in Rural Damascus, Homs, and Tartus.
Many arrived carrying what they can, leaving their memories and members of their families behind.
Zakieh Al-Saadi and her family fled to Lebanon at the onset of the Syrian crisis, leaving behind their memories and many of their belongings. Now, for the second time, Zakieh is forced to leave her home in Lebanon, where she had lived for years, taking only what she could carry.
Jdeidet Yabous/Rural Damascus/Ammar Saboh/ICRC
“We lived through three days of constant shelling. Fear gripped us so tightly that we couldn’t eat, especially when the sound of planes filled the air. The children were trembling with terror, their cries echoing our own despair,” Zakieh recalled.
Jdeidet Yabous/Rural Damascus/Ammar Saboh/ICRC
Zkieh and her grandchildren departed from Lebanon, leaving behind half of their family who were unable to escape. As soon as they reached a safe location, she spoke on the phone with her son in Lebanon for the first time since leaving their home, offering him reassurance about his children.
“We are at the Masnaa border crossing in Syria, and we are fine.”
Jdeidet Yabous/Rural Damascus/Ammar Saboh/ICRC
In a new attempt to adapt and in pursuit of safety, Zakieh says: “Now we are leaving the border into Syria, and we don’t know where we will go, how we will get through the winter, or what the future holds for us.”
Since the 24th of September, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), has been closely monitoring the consequences of the deteriorating conflict situation in Lebanon. The movement of hundreds of thousands of people fleeing violence from Lebanon to Syria has generated massive humanitarian needs and has required a fast and coordinated emergency response from all concerned authorities and humanitarian actors.
In a country where critical infrastructure, livelihoods, and the provision of essential services, including water, electricity and healthcare, have been severely eroded by years of conflicts and crises, any additional strain will be extremely difficult to absorb and will require an enhanced and coordinated collective humanitarian response. In addition to assistance, protection, and safety for all displaced persons, wherever they are, will also be tantamount.
The ICRC is working in partnership with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) to assess and meet the immediate needs of those crossing the border, staying in shelters or hosted in communities. Emergency response has been bolstered, allowing the ICRC and SARC to respond effectively to some of the most critical needs, such as water and hygiene, medical care, food, and protection.
