Urgent Relief for Will's Displaced Family in Lebanon

Will Abbas-Mirza is a 2024 graduate from Carleton College. Currently preparing for law school, he received distinctions and awards in the Carleton History department, while also playing on the Knights football team, acting as co-President of the Middle Eastern and North African Student Association (MENA), and as a board member for the Carleton College Disability+ Alliance.

Although almost all of his family is in Lebanon, Will lives with his mom in the Detroit metro, half a globe away. Earlier this year, Will and his cousin hoped to travel to Lebanon in the spring to gather an oral history of their family from their only living elder, their Khali Abdullah. BUT BECAUSE OF THE WAR THIS IS NO LONGER POSSIBLE.

After an initial displacement from Janoob in early June, eighteen of Will’s family members are now living together in a two-room flat. They are Zeinab age 83, Joumana age 45 and her daughter Nour Mariam age 2, Abbas age 51, his wife Zainab age 37 and their daughter Fatima age 13, Zahraa 12, Ali 10, Hassan 5, Imad age 47, Zee 32, Mohammad 20, Hasean age 45, Zainab 38, Haidi, 21, Ahmad 19, Fatima age 16, and Mariam, 4.

This is not the first time that the people of Lebanon have had their lives upended. The relationship between Israel and Lebanon is one of perpetual conflict. In 1948, feeling threatened by the violent displacement of 100,000 Palestinian people, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon declared war on the newly established state of Israel. Repelling this assault, Israel proceeded to invade and occupy a portion of southern Lebanon until 1949, when an armistice was signed. Peace didn't last however, as in 1982, Israel invaded Lebanon, under the pretense of quelling Palestinian rebellions against them. In reality, the invasion acted as a method of assassinating the Lebanese President-elect and murdering 3,500 Palestinians and Lebanese citizens. This war was the catalyst that forged a new power in the region.

Since its inception, Hezbollah has applied pressure along the border using tactics involving long range rockets, suicide bombing, and assassination, which Israel frequently responds to with disproportionate amounts of force. This back and forth came to a head in 2006, where a month-long war left Lebanon with 5,600 civilian casualties and a swath of destroyed cities. Though Israel continued monitoring Lebanon, no major escalations occurred between 2006 to 2023.

However, with Hamas’ attack on Israel in October 2023, this fragile peace was broken, as Hezbollah began its own escalation against its foe. In an action which displaced thousands of residents, Israel responded with an intense bombing campaign across southern Lebanon. Now in 2024, the conflict is escalating once more. With Hezbollah releasing drone footage of Israeli civilian areas, Israel has announced that preparations are being made for an all-out war.

Considering Israel’s razing of Gaza over the last 8 months, all in Lebanon fear for the lives of their loved ones and their country. Once more, the lives of the people of Lebanon have been uprooted, as 90,000 people, including Will’s family, have been displaced from the south. Nobody is certain when tensions will exceed the point of no return. Will’s family, and all people in Lebanon need assistance before the situation becomes more dire. They all have lives: families, friends, jobs, dreams, and passions. Yet their very existence has been continuously threatened by a war that they do not want, nor have any control over. Without expedient help, they are certain to suffer the full consequences of it.

Anything that you can offer will be deeply appreciated, and please continue to help by sharing with as many as possible. If sufficient, this money will go towards assisting a wide number of people. In this situation, more than ever, your actions can make a difference.