Finnish-Lebanese mother flees bombings in Lebanon with daughter and father

Miriam Azar, a Finnish-Lebanese resident of Lebanon, is currently fleeing amidst bombings with her six-year-old daughter and 80-year-old father. Speaking via video call from Beirut’s airport on Wednesday morning, Azar described the situation in Lebanon as unbearable, noting the recent weeks in the Beirut area have been filled with terror. The family lives in the mountains outside of Beirut, where Israeli airstrikes have struck alarmingly close to their home.

“Last night was heavy. Bombings occurred between one and five in the morning. Luckily, my child slept through it, but staying awake has become a routine for me,” Azar recounted. She expressed deep concern as drones constantly hover overhead and warnings about bombings come frequently, with explosions happening just hundreds of meters from friends’ homes.

Azar has tried to maintain a sense of normalcy for her daughter’s sake, but her child only attended school for two days before it was shut down. Despite her efforts to shield her daughter from the violence, the young girl witnessed a bombing while playing outside.

Facing continuous fear and uncertainty, Azar made the difficult decision to leave Lebanon, taking her father with her. “I’m leaving for my daughter’s safety. I don’t want her to experience this horror,” she said.

The journey to the airport was dangerous, given the recent bombings along the route. Although flights are scarce, Middle East Airlines continues to operate. Azar’s flight to Athens took off around midday on Wednesday, with plans to eventually reach Finland, where she owns property. The future remains uncertain for the family, as they navigate this harrowing escape.

Due to the bombings across Lebanon, nearly 1,000 people have died, and up to a million have been forced to flee their homes, many of whom are children.