Grandmothers Reflect on Decades of Displacement from South Lebanon to Beirut
Two grandmothers, Mariam Allawiya and Kafa Wehbe, share their stories of being repeatedly displaced from southern Lebanon to Beirut due to Israeli invasions over the decades.
Mariam Allawiya, 60, and Kafa Wehbe, 67, were both born and raised in the olive groves of southern Lebanon. Their families have been deeply intertwined for generations - Mariam's son married Kafa's daughter. But their lives have also been marked by repeated displacement, as they've been forced to flee their southern Lebanese homes multiple times due to the ongoing conflict in the region.
Now, the two grandmothers find themselves living temporarily in a vacant apartment building in central Beirut, having been displaced from their southern homes yet again by the latest Israeli invasion. As they sit together, their faces etched with the weight of decades of struggle, they share their stories of resilience and the profound impact that these displacements have had on their lives.
Mariam recounts her memories of growing up in the lush, verdant landscape of southern Lebanon, where her family had tended to olive groves for generations.
Source: NPR
