Soreti, an Ethiopian migrant domestic worker residing in Lebanon, considers herself fortunate to be alive after narrowly escaping Israeli air strikes that hit her neighborhood in Tyre on September 23. She described the attacks as a massacre and mentioned that many elderly individuals and children were affected. Despite losing some hearing, she is grateful to be safe and is currently taking refuge with other African migrants, including children, in a private residence.
Lebanon is home to an estimated 175,000 to 200,000 foreign domestic workers, with the majority being women. A significant portion of these workers are Ethiopian, with many arriving in the country in the 1980s and later due to the end of Lebanon’s civil war. Most of these workers take up low-paying jobs as live-in caregivers and send money back to their families in Ethiopia.
The recent escalation of Israeli attacks on Lebanon has resulted in a devastating impact, with thousands of people killed and many more displaced from their homes. Soreti mentioned that many migrant domestic workers have been forced to flee to Beirut or other areas, as they have nowhere else to go.
The situation is particularly dire for migrant workers in Lebanon, as they are not afforded the same protections as local workers under the country’s labor laws. Instead, their status is governed by the kafala system, which has been criticized as a form of modern-day slavery. This lack of legal protection has led to widespread abuse of domestic workers over the years, with many workers facing dire conditions and mistreatment.
As the crisis in Lebanon continues to worsen, migrant workers are facing increasing challenges in finding shelter and support. Many have been left homeless and stranded, with limited options for assistance. The response from African embassies in Lebanon has been lacking, leaving many migrant workers feeling abandoned and vulnerable in the face of ongoing conflict and instability.