Beirut waterfront camp lacks basic sanitation as displacement crisis deepens
A single mother from Baalbek describes the reality of life in a tent city with no running water or sanitation facilities, highlighting the humanitarian strain in Lebanon.
Jenan Habash, a single mother originally from Baalbek, has spent the last three months residing in a displacement camp situated on the Beirut waterfront. She is accompanied by her two daughters, aged five and 10, as part of a broader population affected by the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Lebanon.
The camp, which comprises 175 tents, operates without essential infrastructure, including running water and sanitation facilities. Habash, who fled her home with her children, has questioned the adequacy of the living arrangements, asking, "Is this safety?" Her account underscores the severe deficits in basic services for those forced to relocate.
According to reporting by France 24 International, the absence of clean water and proper sanitation poses significant challenges for the residents. The situation reflects the broader difficulties faced by displaced families in the region, where infrastructure support remains limited despite the duration of their stay.
The specific catalyst for Habash’s displacement is not detailed in the available source material. However, her presence in the camp aligns with wider patterns of internal displacement linked to the humanitarian emergency in Lebanon. The camp’s location on the Beirut waterfront places these families in close proximity to the city’s central areas, yet isolated from adequate municipal services.
As the displacement continues, the lack of fundamental amenities remains a critical concern for the 175 households in the tent city. Habash’s experience illustrates the daily realities for many in the camp, where survival depends on resources that are currently unavailable on-site.
