Feeling the Pain from Afar: Lebanese Community in Ireland Grapples with the Conflict Back Home

Perched on St Andrew’s Street in Dublin, The Cedar Tree restaurant might be nearly 4,000 kilometers away from Lebanon, yet for its dedicated staff and the broader Lebanese community living in Ireland, thoughts of their homeland linger daily.

In recent weeks, the coastal nation of Lebanon has faced a barrage of airstrikes from Israel, resulting in tragic losses exceeding 1,000 lives and displacing around 600,000 individuals, as reported by the UN. The staggering toll weighs heavily on all who have ties to the region.

“It’s truly devastating to witness,” shares Sereen Sarhan, the manager of The Cedar Tree.

Her family’s journey to Ireland began in the 1980s, when her parents made the life-altering decision to move. In 1986, her father and uncle established The Cedar Tree, a vibrant hub of Lebanese culture and cuisine.

However, life’s unpredictability became evident during the war of 2006 between Israel and Hezbollah, compelling her family to return to Ireland to escape the chaos.

“My grandparents lived through this turmoil, and then my parents faced it. Now, it’s my turn to witness this devastation, and my little sister is enduring it as well,” she reflects somberly.

Every morning starts with anxious check-ins with their relatives still in Lebanon. These conversations often follow a fitful night, filled with worry for loved ones. The restlessness is mutual, as Sereen’s aunt in Beirut has given up on sleep entirely.

“In the dead of night, she steps onto her balcony. She watches the flames, smoke billowing, and debris scattered everywhere,” Sereen describes, her voice heavy with emotion.

The family, originally from southern Lebanon, has fled to join their relatives residing in Beirut, finding a semblance of safety amidst the turmoil.

Sereen remains acutely aware that her family’s circumstances are far from universal. “There are countless people in Lebanon who possess so little… now they’re left with absolutely nothing,” she laments.

The caretaker overseeing their family home has sought refuge in the northern parts of the country. Unfortunately, his wife and son were forced to escape further into Syria in search of urgent medical care for their seriously ill child.

The father now struggles to find a secure place to stay and has taken refuge in a nearby school.

Social media and technology have emerged as invaluable lifelines for the Sarhan family, enabling them to maintain close connections with friends and family. Still, this has also resulted in a heartbreaking experience—witnessing the degradation of their homeland in almost real-time.

“On my morning commute, I constantly see these gut-wrenching scenes unfolding, not just in Lebanon but also in Gaza. We are essentially in the same boat,” Ms. Sarhan expresses passionately.

Many images trickling in from Lebanon starkly contrast the beloved places once teeming with life and vibrancy.
“There’s simply no justification for deploying such deadly force against civilians,” a Lebanese man living in Ireland, who requested anonymity, asserts quietly.

The man shares footage sent from a neighbor in Burj al-Barajneh, a southern Beirut suburb where he spent 25 years, showcasing neighborhoods reduced to mere piles of debris following Israeli airstrikes. “You can see there’s even a nursery around here,” he explains, pointing to the desolate scene of destruction.

“And a bakery, grocery stores… it’s supposed to be a residential street, you know?” he adds.

Before the exodus began a few weeks ago, “the streets were always bustling with people,” he reminisces.

Both Sereen and the unnamed man express a desire to see the Lebanese people granted opportunities to relocate to Ireland, similar to the arrangements made for Ukrainians amid the conflict with Russia that erupted in 2023.

“I’m aware of how many Irish individuals have served in Lebanon,” he shares, hoping that this shared history will prompt government action.

“I genuinely wish we could assist them, much like the support extended to Ukraine. It feels rather unfair; it’s as if color plays a role in how assistance is allocated,” Sereen urges passionately.

With dreams of returning to Lebanon next summer, Ms. Sarhan fondly reminisces about her homeland. “The ocean’s beauty, the majestic mountains, the lush greenery—it’s stunning, I truly love it,” she muses.

Edited by: Ali Musa

Axadle international–Monitoring