Mon Sep 23 22:24:00 UTC 2024: ## Shatila Refugee Camp: A Haven for Displaced Lebanese Amidst Israel-Hezbollah Conflict
**Beirut, Lebanon** – Shatila refugee camp, a longstanding home for Palestinian refugees, is now witnessing a new wave of displaced people: Lebanese families fleeing the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
The camp, known for its precarious living conditions and its history of violence, has for decades provided refuge to those fleeing conflict, including Syrians during the recent civil war. However, the current influx of Lebanese families highlights the wider repercussions of the ongoing conflict.
Hundreds of Lebanese families have sought shelter in Shatila, escaping the intense Israeli airstrikes on their homes in the south. Many are staying with Palestinian families, sharing their limited resources and space.
“This situation is difficult for everyone, including for us here as we don’t know what our fate is,” says Hajji Zeinab, a Palestinian resident of Shatila who has opened her home to three Lebanese families. “People in Lebanon are sacrificing for us, the Palestinian people. The least we can do is open up our centres and schools and help.”
Families like Assem Said’s, who fled with their six-year-old daughter Zeinab and four-year-old daughter Aya, are struggling to cope with the trauma of displacement and the uncertainty of their future.
“The strikes became very heavy everywhere across southern Lebanon, in the houses and in the neighbourhoods,” says Said. “The kids would shake because they’re so scared.”
As the conflict intensifies, residents of Shatila fear that the violence could soon reach their doorstep. They worry about the future and the possibility of becoming further displaced.
The arrival of Lebanese families in Shatila underscores the broader humanitarian crisis unfolding in Lebanon, as the country grapples with the consequences of a war that is rapidly engulfing its territory.
First Piper 