Tripoli theaters embrace the displaced people of southern Lebanon, and the crisis of needs is worsening news

In light of the continuation of the war and the expansion of waves of displacement inside Lebanon, the suffering of hundreds of thousands of displaced people who have fled from the south to the north is exacerbated, as shelter centers face increasing pressure and a shortage of basic needs, amid civil efforts to try to contain the crisis and mitigate its humanitarian repercussions.

In this context, Osama Aweid, Al Jazeera’s correspondent directly from northern Lebanon, reported that the number of displaced people in the country exceeded one million, in light of the continued flow of families from the south towards safer areas, especially in Tripoli, Akkar Governorate, and the Minieh-Dinniyeh district.

He explained that these large numbers put increasing pressure on shelter centers, which suffer from a lack of resources and basic services, at a time when humanitarian needs are increasing day by day.

In a remarkable scene, the Lebanese National Theater turned into a shelter center receiving dozens of displaced families, in an initiative led by civil society organizations and local artists.

Theater director Waseem Adhami said that the decision to open theaters in Tripoli, Beirut and Tire came at the beginning of the war, explaining that this step falls within what he described as “cultural resistance,” noting the continuation of artistic and training activities in parallel with receiving the displaced.

He added, “The theater will not close its doors to the people, and we will continue until our last breath,” pointing out that the aid comes mainly from civil society organizations, in light of the limited official support.

Testimonies of displaced people

Despite the difficult circumstances, a number of displaced people expressed their gratitude for the services provided within the shelter centers. One of the displaced people coming from Tyre, said, “They welcomed us with open arms and provided us with everything,” expressing his hope that the war would stop and he could return to his home.

Another displaced person also indicated that basic needs of mattresses, blankets, and medicines were provided through volunteer efforts, praising the role of local associations and the people of Tripoli in supporting them.

For her part, a French refugee woman of Lebanese origin spoke about the moral impact of group life inside the shelter center, noting that solidarity among the displaced eased the feeling of isolation and fear.

She explained that sharing daily details and exchanging psychological support between residents inside the center contributed to alleviating the pressures of war, compared to the isolation that the displaced might feel in the case of individual residence.

In the same context, volunteers expressed their desire to end the war and for the displaced to return to their homes, stressing that the current initiatives remain a temporary solution in the absence of radical solutions to the crisis.

The theater director stressed that the basic message remains the return of the displaced “reinforced and honored” to their areas, while cultural and humanitarian efforts continue to support them during the period of displacement.

Between the stage and the bookshelves, stories of displacement intersect with attempts to endure, in a scene that reflects the depth of the humanitarian crisis that Lebanon is experiencing.

The US-Israeli war on Iran has expanded regionally to include Lebanon since March 2, leaving 1,094 dead and 3,119 wounded, in addition to more than a million displaced people, according to the Lebanese authorities.