Masa* speaks in a quiet voice, carrying the weight of heavy years, “I had no one, I was facing everything alone. Just me and my children”. She is a Syrian woman, born in 1985. She arrived in Lebanon in 2013,…
August 11, 2025 Ralph Haddad, Head of Advocacy, Basmeh & Zeitooneh for Relief and Development In conversation with Aya Habbab, Committee Coordinator at Basmeh & Zeitooneh for Relief and Development When we speak of resilience in humanitarian and development…
From the heart of the city of Qusayr, in Homs Governorate, Aya* (34 years old) came out laden with stories of war and the burden of loss. After losing her husband during the conflict in Syria, she was forced to…
Yasmine, a 30-year-old farmer from Syria, has always had a deep connection to the land. Since childhood, she worked alongside her family, cultivating crops and nurturing the soil. However, after being displaced due to the war, she found herself in…
Under growing threats in his village in the southern countryside of Aleppo, Wael, along with his mother and six siblings, made the difficult decision to leave. “We took what little we could carry and crossed into Lebanon without knowing anyone…
“The new displacement brought new challenges”, Mohamad said, “I lost my job when we fled Nabatieh, and my employer still owes me $600. He blocked me when I tried to contact him”. Without an income, providing for his family has…
Jana’s life has been a series of upheavals, each more heart-wrenching than the last. A 27-year-old mother of four, her story mirrors the resilience and despair of countless displaced families. Originally from Al Ghouta, Damascus, she has endured the horrors…
Meet Fatima, a 46-year-old single resident of the Semmaqiyeh area in Akkar, Lebanon, where agriculture is not just a livelihood but a way of life. Fatima and her family, comprising her mother and four sisters, have long been involved in…
Mahmoud is a 70-year-old seasoned farmer in Tal Hayat, Akkar. For over three decades, Mahmoud has dedicated himself to agriculture, cultivating crops alongside his family since 1984. Married with three sons and three daughters, all actively involved in farming, Mahmoud’s…
Meet Munira, a 29-year-old single resident of Beirut, Lebanon, where the pursuit of a livelihood often meets daunting challenges. In the face of a fiercely competitive job market and limited employability prospects, Munira’s life took a transformative turn when she…
