(24 Dec 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Mieh Mieh, Lebanon – 20 December 2024
1. Various of Vera Zoarob decorating her Christmas tree
2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Vera Zoarob, displaced from Alma al-Shaab:
++PART OVERAID BY SHOTS 1 & 3++
“We thought it will be temporary, and we will return home, but four months later, the situation got worse and our house was damaged. We couldn’t go there anymore. I wanted to set up this tree here and decorate it as a symbol for Christmas. It is true that we are not well emotionally, and we wanted to do this in Alma (Alma al-Shaab town) but we hope we will return and decorate a tree there. “
3. Various of Vera Zoarob decorating her Christmas tree
4. The building where Arlette Francis, a woman displaced from Alma al-Shaab is staying with her family
5. Francis, displaced from a Lebanese border town, looking at a small statue with an image of Jesus on it
6. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Arlette Francis, displaced from Alma al-Shaab:
++PART OVERLAID BY SHOTS 5 & 7++
“I want to decorate my house in Alma al-Shaab with a big tree that we can enjoy Christmas with our family and loved ones. I don’t want to decorate anything here, I will leave it as it is, because we are not in the mood for anything.”
7. Francis showing images of her house in Alma al-Shaab before it was destroyed during war
8. Close up on phone with a birthday party video playing
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ain El Delb, Lebanon – 20 December 2024
9. Various of Christmas recital in Mar Maroun church
10. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Salim Abboud, village chief in Sidon:
++PART OVERLAID BY SHOTS 9 & 11++
“We hope that this bloody war that happened in the south doesn’t happen again. And we hope for the return of all displaced people. It is true we are celebrating Christmas, but we have a heartache. We would still like to wish Merry Christmas to everyone. Today, we are in Mar Maroun church. The church is having a Christmas recital to feel the spirit of Christmas, nothing more. Happy holidays to everyone and we hope next year will be a blessing to all.”
11. Various of nativity scene outside of church
STORYLINE:
As the first Christmas after the ceasefire in Lebanon approaches, Vera Zoarob decorated a festive tree in a house where she is taking shelter, far from her border town.
Zoarob was displaced from Alma al-Shaab to another town after the war ignited between Hezbollah and Israel last year.
She moved with her family, believing it would be only a temporary situation, but they had to stay for over a year and two months.
Despite being away from her home, which was damaged in the conflict, she still wanted to celebrate Christmas with a tree.
“We wanted to do this in Alma, but we hope we will return and decorate a tree there,” she said.
Zoarob is one of many who have not been able to return home after the ceasefire, as Israel continues to threaten displaced Lebanese to not return to dozens of southern villages, including Alma al-Shaab.
Arlette Francis and her family were also displaced to Mieh Mieh from the same town as Zoarob.
However, the mother of three and her family decided not to put up any decorations or celebrate Christmas.
“I want to decorate my house in Alma al-Shaab with a big tree that we can enjoy with our family and loved ones,” she said with teary eyes.
She added that the mood this year is more somber than festive, and therefore she will not decorate her house.
“I don’t want to decorate anything here. I will leave it as it is because we are not in the mood for anything,” she added.
More than 70 people were killed, and 60 injured.
Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/c9718764800d4a65abb56f32701246ae
Author: AP Archive
Go to Source
News post in December 29, 2024, 6:04 am.
Visit Our Sponsor’s:
News Post In – News
