Displaced Lebanese vendor sells vegetables on roadside after Israeli attack leveled his shop

By Idris Okuducu

BEIRUT (AA) - A Lebanese civilian told Anadolu about his struggles as he sold vegetables and fruits on a roadside in Sur, in southern Lebanon, where he took refuge.

Haji Abbas Rahmi, 63, is a native of Ayta al-Shaab, one of the areas most affected by the border conflict between Hezbollah and Israel. He lost two of his shops in Israeli attacks on towns in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah fighters in Ayta al-Shaab, located near the Israeli border, attack the Israeli site of Al-Rahib almost every day. Israel responds with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and heavy artillery fire frequently.

Almost all of the residents are displaced and people like Rahmi closed their shops and migrated with their families to safer cities such as Sur and Beirut.

Tensions have escalated along Lebanon’s border with Israel since the Israeli army launched a deadly military offensive on the Gaza Strip following Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack. There has since been an exchange of cross-border fire between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, in the deadliest clashes since the two sides fought a full-scale war in 2006.

- ‘I need to work for an honorable life.’

Rahmi, a father of five children, said business in the town center was very good before the Israeli attacks started.

“I had two shops; Israel destroyed one of them and it cost me thousands of dollars,” said Rahmi.

Because of the border tension, Rahmi had to leave his other shop.

Rahmi said although he lost two shops, “his loss is worth nothing compared to those who gave their lives for Lebanon.”

“I left Ayta al-Shaab with my three sons and two daughters and settled in the Burj el-Shemali region of Sur immediately after the start of the conflict,” he said.

“I left my source of income, my shops and my house behind and came here,” he added.

“We didn’t expect the war to last this long,” he said, noting that the money he took with him “was only enough for two months.”

“My children and I started selling vegetables and fruits on the roadside in Sur city center starting December,” said Rahmi.

He emphasized that they had no other option. “We have to hold on to life somehow,” he said.

Rahmi stated that after unloading his minibus, he would sit by his vegetables and fruits all day to sell them and earn money to help his married children.

“I cannot go and get money from anyone. I have to work for an honorable life,” Rahmi said, noting that they need money for medicine.