Brazilian housewife Lindaura Lianes Hijazi, 51, is living in a crowded shelter in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, with her husband and two young children. She left her own home after the neighborhood where she lives, south of the city, was devastated by Israeli bombers. Lindaura’s family awaits the plane sent by the Brazilian government so they can leave the country.
“These missiles took down more than seven buildings close to my house. The place where I lived is completely devastated. A bomb like that blows up an entire building. The last time I was home, they dropped more than ten bombs. and without informing anyone. Everything shakes like an earthquake. I thought I was going to die instantly”, reported the Brazilian native of Assis Chateaubriand, in the interior of Paraná.
Lindaura has lived in Lebanon since 1991 and has seen two other wars. In total, she has six children, two of whom are minors. The housewife reported the horror of Israel’s attack through the pagerswhen hundreds of Portable communication radios exploded in several parts of Lebanon targeting Hezbollah leaders. In total, at least twelve people died and 3,000 were injured.
Smoke and bombing fire seen from the balcony of the Brazilian woman’s house, in Beirut. Photo – Lindaura Lianes Hijazi/Personal Archive
“You walked down the street and saw people exploding everywhere. It was in the mall, it was everywhere. Two exploded near my house. The guy’s kidneys fell to the floor. An entire apartment blew up just because of a device like that”, reported the Brazilian.
Lindaura decided to abandon her residence after the fifth bombing in her neighborhood and that entire area of the city is now empty. He also regretted that her bank does not allow withdrawals of more than US$300 per month and that, as a result, she is unable to buy plane tickets to leave Lebanon.
“Now we are waiting, God willing, for President Lula for us to get on the plane to rescue us. If it weren’t for my two young children, I would stay here”, highlighted the Brazilian.
Lindaura also spoke about the psychological pressure that she, her children and her family have suffered. “My children are strong like me, but they scream and despair when the bombs fall. My sister-in-law, who is Lebanese, gets desperate when she hears the sounds of the bombs. She starts hitting herself in the head and turning white. She can’t stand up,” he said.
Understand
Since last September 23, Israel has carried out massive bombings against Lebanese cities. It is estimated that, in just over a week, more than 1,000 people died and 1 million had to leave their homes, according to United Nations (UN) agencies.
Israel claims that the attacks on Lebanon aim to destroy the infrastructure and leadership of Hezbollah, a political and military group that has carried out attacks against northern Israel in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The group promises to maintain attacks as long as the occupation of Gaza by Israeli forces continues.
One Brazilian Air Force (FAB) plane decorated from Rio de Janeiro this Wednesday (02/10) heading to Beirut. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE), around 3 thousand Brazilians want to leave Lebanon.
This is the number of people who approached the Brazilian Embassy in Beirut with a request for repatriation. The largest community of Brazilians in the Middle East is currently in Lebanon. In total, 21 thousand Brazilians live in the country.
