Israel-Palestine Crisis: Sierra Leone Nationals Cry Out for Evacuation Assistance

Sierra Leoneans Beg for Evacuation, Government Intervention

“We don't know today if we will live or not, only God knows...”

Learn about the harrowing experiences of migrant domestic workers from Sierra Leone in Lebanon, facing exploitation, homelessness, and uncertainty amidst conflict and violence.

Trapped in southern Lebanon, Sierra Leonean nationals Fatima Samuella Tholley and Mariatu Musa Tholley desperately seek assistance after Israel's attacks shattered their hopes of returning home. The devastating conflict has left them with nothing but a single plastic bag containing a few cherished clothes, the only possessions they managed to salvage amidst their frantic escape.

Disoriented and terrified, the two women find themselves adrift in the chaos of a war-torn city, unfamiliar except for the airport where they first arrived months ago. Their dreams of a peaceful sojourn now lie in ruins, replaced by the harsh reality of displacement and uncertainty.

“We don't know today if we will live or not, only God knows.

“I have nothing, no passport and no documents,” Fatima said.

Fatima and Mariatu, Sierra Leonean cousins, have spent harrowing days confined to a cramped storage room in an abandoned apartment, courtesy of a kind stranger they met during their desperate flight. Cut off from news and unable to understand French or Arabic, their only window to the world is literally the apartment window, where they witness the relentless bombardment ravaging the city.

The cousins' ordeal unfolds against the backdrop of Lebanon's escalating crisis, which has claimed over 1,000 lives and displaced hundreds of thousands since mid-September. Israel's targeted attacks on Hezbollah strongholds have transformed the nation into a battle-scarred landscape, leaving innocent civilians like Fatima and Mariatu trapped and helpless.

Lebanon's escalating conflict since mid-September has resulted in devastating losses: over 1,000 lives lost and hundreds of thousands displaced. The crisis disproportionately affects migrant workers, whose precarious legal status is tied to their employer through the 'kafala' sponsorship system.

This system, criticized by rights organizations, perpetuates abuses against migrant workers, including:

• Wage withholding
• Document confiscation (passports, ID)
• Restricted freedom of movement
• Limited access to legal recourse

Trapped in vulnerable circumstances, migrant workers face heightened risks amidst Lebanon's turmoil, their escape hindered by the very system meant to regulate their employment.

Sierra Leone is working to account for its citizens currently in Lebanon to provide emergency travel certificates to those without passports, as stated by Kai S. Brima from the foreign affairs ministry. This effort is particularly important due to the long-standing Lebanese community in Sierra Leone, which has been present for over a century and plays a significant role in the country's business and trade sectors.

The Lebanese community in Sierra Leone has a rich history, dating back to the mid-19th century when Lebanese immigrants first arrived in West Africa. Initially, they worked as small traders, occupying a similar position in the economic structure as indigenous coastal traders. Over time, they expanded their trading interests into the interior, gaining commercial power and eventually becoming prominent in various sectors, including diamonds, cinemas, hotels, and factories.

The connection between Sierra Leone and Lebanon is deeply rooted, with many Lebanese nationals having made significant contributions to Sierra Leone's economy and society. In fact, there are estimated to be around 30,000 people of Lebanese descent living in Sierra Leone. The Lebanese diaspora is known for its strong networks and entrepreneurial spirit, with many successful businesspeople and leaders of Lebanese origin.

Thousands of migrants travel to Lebanon annually, seeking better economic opportunities to support their loved ones back home through remittances.

“We don't know anything, any information.

“Our neighbours don't open the door for us because they know we are black.

“We don't want to die here,” Mariatu said weeping.

Fatima and Mariatu revealed shocking details of their exploitative work conditions in Lebanon, reporting a meager monthly salary of $150. Their grueling schedule consisted of 18-hour workdays, from 6:00 am to midnight, seven days a week.

The cousins also disclosed that they were largely confined to the house, with their movements severely restricted. This alarming lack of freedom, combined with their exhausting work schedule and paltry wages, highlights the exploitative nature of their employment.

Additional Sierra Leonean domestic workers in Beirut, Lebanon, shared similar experiences of desperation and exploitation. One woman, who arrived in December 2021 to support her family, recounted a harrowing ordeal.

After facing sexual harassment from her first employer, she made the courageous decision to escape, leaving her passport behind. This traumatic event left her vulnerable and stranded in a foreign country.

“The people I work for, they left me, they left me and went away.

“A passing driver saw me crying on the street and offered to take me to Beirut,” she said.

Similar to Fatima and Mariatu, she finds herself in a precarious situation, lacking:

• Financial resources
• Official identification documents

Adding that, “I only came with two clothes in my plastic bag.”

A female housekeeper revealed that she spent almost a week living on Beirut's streets, forced into homelessness after fleeing her employer.

“We don't have a place to sleep, we don't have food, we don't have water,” she said.

She recounted relying on strangers' kindness for scraps of bread and spare change to sustain herself during her desperate days on the streets.

The housekeeper's concerns extended beyond her immediate survival. She anxiously wondered:

If her former employer had survived the bombardment

The fate of her friends from Sierra Leone, also working in Lebanon

Uncertainty plagued her, compounded by the chaos and destruction surrounding her.