A child’s escape from the conflict: the story of Ghazal

"Nothing will happen except what God has destined me for. If I am destined to die, I will die, and if I am destined to live, I will live," said Ghazal, a 9-year-old girl who fled from southern Lebanon to Beirut due to the escalating armed conflict spreading across the country.

Before fleeing to Beirut, Ghazal used to play with her brother and friends, enjoying the simple moments of childhood. In the evenings, they would shower, have dinner, and go to sleep peacefully. But now, that life feels distant. She longs for a time when her family and friends would live together again, without fear or separation. "If someone dies, God forbid, what will we gain from that?" she asked. Ghazal is also deeply worried about her grandmother, fearing that something might happen to her. "How could I know if she might pass away now, God forbid? What would I do then?" she wonders, with a look that is weighted by uncertainty.

As the conflict continues, life, Ghazal fears, is only getting worse. Every day, she hears that the war won’t end soon, and that terrifies her. One of her greatest fears is for her school. "I hope my school stays safe and doesn’t even get a single scratch because, in the end, it’s my school, and when I grow up, my future will be there," she said. Despite the hardships, Ghazal is grateful for being able to attend school in Beirut. But her ambition goes beyond just playing. "I don’t just want to play; I want to learn and study," she said.

For children across Lebanon, as well as death, injury and displacement, the escalation in hostilities has instilled an unimaginable fear in their daily lives. More than ever before they face the harsh reality of a life filled with uncertainty and violence. UNICEF is on the ground delivering urgently needed water, health, nutrition, education services, and providing psycho-social support.