As the Israeli invation and air strikes on Lebanon escalate, migrant domestic workers find themselves in dire circumstances. Among them is Soreti, an Ethiopian worker living in Tyre, who narrowly escaped a devastating attack on September 23. “It was a massacre,” she recounted from a temporary shelter housing dozens of fellow migrants, many of whom are children traumatized by the ongoing violence.
Soreti is one of an estimated 175,000 to 200,000 foreign domestic workers in Lebanon, with a significant portion being Ethiopian women. They have historically come to Lebanon for low-wage jobs as caregivers, often sending money home to support their families. However, the worsening security situation complicates their precarious existence.
Israeli invation and killings continues, resulting in at least 1,900 fatalities in Lebanon within the last year, according to local health officials. The ongoing violence by Israel has displaced over one million individuals, with many foreign workers left without refuge. “There’s no place to go for migrants,” Soreti lamented, emphasizing the lack of options available to her community.
In Sidon, another Ethiopian domestic worker, Wubayehu Negash, expressed her unease as schools become makeshift shelters for local Lebanese residents. “I was here during the 2006 conflict, but this is much worse,” she said, highlighting the deteriorating situation.
Lebanon’s deepening financial crisis has exacerbated the plight of domestic workers, many of whom lost their jobs during the pandemic. Without legal protections under the Lebanese labor law, these workers often find themselves trapped under the “kafala” sponsorship system, which limits their ability to seek help in abusive situations. Reports of frequent abuses, neglect, and even deaths among domestic workers are alarming, with many forced to rely on their embassies for assistance.
Unfortunately, the response from African diplomatic missions has been insufficient. Sophie Ndongo, a Cameroonian community leader in Beirut, shared that she often receives requests from fellow migrants for help with repatriation, underscoring the absence of effective support from their embassies. “It feels as if we don’t have embassies here,” she stated.
As conditions worsen, humanitarian organizations have stepped in to provide support, but the demand for shelter and basic necessities continues to exceed available resources. Tsigereda Birhanu, an Ethiopian humanitarian worker, noted that many displaced migrants are being turned away from shelters due to their immigration status. “If it wasn’t for kind individuals, many would be on the streets,” she emphasized, as winter approaches.
The urgent need for assistance underscores the plight of domestic workers in Lebanon, who are often overlooked amid the broader crisis. With the ongoing violence and deteriorating living conditions, their survival depends on the generosity of individuals and local organizations.
