Rudayna is one of the many people who have found refuge at the Jesuit Church of St Joseph in Beirut, where JRS is welcoming and supporting migrant families seeking a place to stay.

Transcript: 

“My name is Rudayna Mustafa, and I’m from Sudan. I first came to Lebanon in 2017. After that, I returned to Sudan, but in 2019, when the conflict started there, I had to come back to Lebanon again. Since then, I have not been able to return because of the wars and ongoing problems.

When the first airstrike happened, we had to run away. From 2:45 until 5:00 a.m., we were searching for somewhere to go. A Sudanese woman working here at the church told me that the entire southern suburb of Beirut was under threat, and that I had to leave with my children immediately. I told her, “I have nowhere to go.” She said, “Come to this church. They will shelter you.”

My daughter has autism. At the beginning, she had hyperactivity and delayed speech. People told me it was normal. But when we started asking about her condition, we realised she needed treatment. At that time, we were able to begin therapy, and her condition improved, and she started speaking. But when the war began, she relapsed and stopped speaking again. Now her condition has become so sensitive that even if a door closes, she becomes terrified and starts screaming.

I tried to enrol her in a special needs school, but I can’t afford it. She is seven years old, her sister is five, and the youngest is two. And I am now pregnant in my ninth month.

What worries me the most now is how I will give birth, because I do not have access to a hospital.

My children cannot continue their education, and even those who study often cannot find work.

We have suffered a lot, but I hope that my children will have a better life. What I wish for most is that God heals my daughter, and that she finds a place and an environment that can truly care for children like her.”

JRS’s response

In circumstances like these, finding hope can be challenging. Simple acts of solidarity help keep it alive. Our teams in Lebanon continue to stand with those who are forced to flee, ensuring that no one faces this crisis alone.