Matennah Sawanah, a 33-year-old woman from Sierra Leone, previously made approximately $300 monthly working at a hotel in Sidon, a coastal Lebanese city. Due to the hotel’s closure amidst Israel’s bombing operations, she is now jobless, residing in a crowded apartment with 24 other women, and facing difficulties paying rent.
Ms. Matennah Sawanah. Provided by Matennah Sawanah
Foreign laborers, including Sawanah, find themselves embroiled in the conflict as Israel conducts airstrikes targeting Hezbollah, an Iranian-supported militant organization located in southern Lebanon. This ongoing strife has severely disrupted everyday existence in the nation, leading to over 1,000 fatalities and more than a million people being displaced in recent weeks.
“We have no employment opportunities; it’s exceedingly difficult,” Sawanah informed NBC News. “We lack the funds necessary for rent.”
The International Labor Organization reports over 24 million migrant workers across the Arab world, many of whom reside in Lebanon. The escalating conflict in the Middle East has significantly impacted their ability to earn a living, and there have been reports of some migrant workers sustaining fatal or non-fatal injuries in aerial attacks.
A significant number of individuals live in dread, anticipating that “a bomb might strike at any moment,” stated Mustafa Qadri, the founder and CEO of Equidem, a labor rights organization. He also noted that certain migrant workers lack knowledge on how to reach bomb shelters.
Having relocated to Lebanon in 2020, Sawanah has been assisting fellow migrant workers in their efforts to restore stability. Despite the prevailing instability, she is resolute in her desire to resume employment when circumstances become more favorable.
“Should opportunities arise, I will seek employment to earn income,” she stated. “I cannot remain idle.”
Authorities confirm that aid initiatives are being provided to everyone dislocated by the conflict.
“All displaced individuals are being treated equally by us. A displaced person is simply a displaced person, irrespective of their background – be they Lebanese, a refugee, or a migrant,” explained Mortada Mhanna, who leads the disaster unit in Tyre, Lebanon’s fourth-largest coastal settlement.
“Anyone who seeks our help, we endeavor to secure them lodging and fulfill all their requirements.”