Lebanon: Summer 2006

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Words and photos by Stefanos Kouratzis:  It wasn’t easy to get in to survey the damage to Southern Lebanon’s Shiite neighbourhoods right after the Israeli ceasefire. Once there, Armed Hezbollah fighters asked for press credentials and in return you were giving you a new Hezbollah press card. You had to keep it with you at all times.  Collapsed buildings, dust and suffering were all that you could see. The smell of death was everywhere and it was hard to breath. A scarf covered my mouth and nose, while a camera shielded my emotions. People were trying to find beloved ones and things that they could use. They were panicked but they were not giving up hope.  Pictures of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, flags of Hezbollah and of Lebanon were placed in various places in an effort to keep the moral high. And it seems that it worked up to a point. Most of the people had to move to the mountains for safety. Once again, civilians had to pay the highest price. Nothing will be the same again in the Beirut.   15 August 2006, Lebanon, Sidon, Palestinian Refugee Camp, Ain Al-Heweh. 2006 Lebanon War. Unidentified man, walks on destroyed destoyed buildings. 17 August 2006, Lebanon, Beirut, Dahia. 2006 Lebanon War. Unidentified man walks in the destroyied area. Lebanene people in order to keep their moral high, after Israeli forces bombing during the war , they placed photos of Sheikh Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah , leader of the Lebanese Hezbollah. 17 August 2006, Lebanon, Beirut, Dahia. 2006 Lebanon War. Unidentified old man, goes through rumbbles to find anything that can be used. 17 August 2006, Lebanon, Beirut, Dahia. 2006 Lebanon War. Unidentified men, standing by a car were the photo of Sheikh Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah , leader of the Lebanese Hezbollah. 17 August 2006, Lebanon, Beirut, Dahia. 2006 Lebanon War. Unidentified women, having scarfs in their faces to avoind dust and smell, standing by and looking at the destroyed buildings. 17 August 2006, Lebanon, Beirut, Dahia. 2006 Lebanon War. Unidentified man wearing a mask to avoid the smell and dust at the bombed area 15 August 2006, Lebanon, Sidon, Palestinian Refugee Camp, Ain Al-Helweh. 2006 Lebanon War. two Unidentified women, fleeding to safety, say goodbye to each other. They flee to safety with any mean of transportation as Israeli forces bombing during the 2006 Lebanon War. 17 August 2006, Lebanon, Beirut, Dahia. 2006 Lebanon War. Unidentified woman, walks by breakage. 17 August 2006, Lebanon, Beirut, Dahia. 2006 Lebanon War. Unidentified man looks at the destroyied buildings while talking on the phone.    17 August 2006, Lebanon, Beirut, Dahia . 2006 Lebanon War. Unidentified young boy walks by breakage and that the background a picture of Ayatullah Khomeini, Iran's political and religious leader till his death.

Technorati Tags: army, beruit, children, civil war, conflict, crisis, hezbollah, israel, israeli defense force, killing, lebanon, militia, nassrallah, stefanos kouratzis, war, warshooter