South Lebanon sees the hope of return taking root among the residents of Alma el-Chaab as the olive harvest approaches, with farmers waiting for authorization to work their land after more than six months of forced displacement. In testimony collected by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), their parish priest, Maronite Chorbishop Maroun Ghafari, describes the daily reality of a dispersed community preparing for its return. In September, around ten farmers obtained limited permission to clean their olive groves and clear overgrown plots, hoping to receive a new authorization allowing them to harvest their olives starting after mid-October.
In the region, several olive groves and agricultural lands suffered severe damage during the conflict, as an ACN delegation witnessed firsthand during a visit in May 2025. For local families, the significance of the harvest extends beyond agriculture, representing a crucial first step toward returning home. Chorbishop Maroun Ghafari highlights the importance of this moment:
“If this stage succeeds, we will be moving along the path we hope to follow”.
Prayer and the olive harvest in South Lebanon
While the olive trees nurture the common hope of returning home, prayer sustains the waiting period for the dispersed community of Alma el-Chaab. For Fr. Ghafari, spiritual strength remains essential:
“Prayer in general, and especially the rosary, remains the strongest spiritual weapon for facing visible and invisible enemies”.
Last year, students at the School of the Sisters of the Holy Family participated in ACN’s “One Million Children Praying the Rosary” initiative. Although the school was closed for the 2026–2027 academic year by decision of the congregation, students now dispersed across different schools in the country joined the prayer campaign from 1 to 7 October. On 1 October, Pope Leo XIV joined hundreds of children in the Vatican Gardens to pray for peace, remembering the families of Lebanon.
Hope of returning home and ACN’s ongoing assistance
During July and August, weekly supervised visits enabled around 50 people to revisit the village briefly. Fr. Ghafari captures the complex emotions experienced by returning parishioners:
“Between a smile and a tear, these visits summarise part of what we are living through”.
“Our destiny should be similar to that of the Christian villages in the South that continue to hold fast to their land”.
“Without Divine Providence, the displaced families would have died of hunger”.
Around one hundred residents stand ready to return; however, their permanent relocation remains dependent on political decisions and access to food, medicine, drinking water, fuel, and financial support. Returning residents may also be required to remain within defined geographical boundaries, prompting the parish to work toward securing a safe corridor for medical emergencies.
After more than six months of displacement, financial burdens regarding rent, food, and education remain immense. The parish is working with the village crisis committee to secure aid, while ACN continues supporting local families through targeted emergency assistance and educational support programs for children.
