Resilience Amidst War: Stories of Hope and Resistance

Design by Joude Abou Hamdan

War, in its many forms, often breaks apart communities and shatters families, obliterating everyday life. In particular, Lebanon and Gaza are currently witnessing quite the harrowing conflicts in which civilians themselves bear the burden of violence and instability. The history fueling these wars is long and complex, but these hostilities have thrown many into despair. In this chaos, though, there emerges a theme, a pattern of resilience and hope depicting how the human spirit is strong enough to withstand even the most daunting challenges. This essay zooms in on personal stories of those who have shown extraordinary feats of strength, people who, in the face of war, have found means to build and maintain their dignity, and most importantly, to survive.

Section 1: The Power of Community

Story: Ibtisam’s Bakery

Ibtisam, a Palestinian woman, is a prime example of resilience; she currently spends her days standing behind her busy bakery counter in the middle of a refugee camp in Saadnayel, Lebanon. This bakery, once a distant dream she and her community longed for, now stands as a symbol of endurance and fortitude. When Ibtisam lost her husband, she was forced to live as a refugee, experiencing the struggles of living in war, and facing the financial and emotional challenges of this displacement.

Thanks to the Islamic Relief Orphan Sponsorship Program, she was able to embark on her journey of change. Ibtisam never got over the death of her husband, so she chose to channel her grief into the art of baking, growing in experience and showcasing resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity. Her bakery soon became a place of gathering, for the ladies in particular, where they shared stories, laughed, and felt a sense of solidarity amidst the bleakness of their circumstances.

Every loaf of bread Ibtisam baked had the love and the pain of her people, wanting to show that even in the darkest times, they can create something beautiful together. Ibtisam kept going, not only because of her own strength but partly due to the support of her community. Her story testifies to the enduring transformational power of communities and the indomitable human spirit that never yields to adversity.

Section 2: Defying the Odds

Story: Islam’s Fight Against Cancer in Gaza (Anera)

Islam, a Gazan construction worker, is fighting his own battle — a cancer diagnosis. In the middle of ongoing bombardments, he not only fights for his life but also endures the harsh realities of war. Islam has been displaced from his home and gets sporadic chemotherapy treatments in makeshift conditions in a school-turned-shelter.

Despite being surrounded by chaos, Islam is optimistic about the future. He often thinks about his life before the conflict, his family dreams, and his simple routine. “Three years ago, I had to stop my work as I was getting too weak and focus on receiving treatment for my cancer,” he recounts, his voice shaking with emotion. “A few patients with severe cancer have been fortunate enough to leave; I am patiently waiting for my turn” (Mariele, 2024). In the past, Islam had never thought that he would be fighting two wars at once, one against the circumstances that threatened his family’s safety, and another one against cancer.

He is persistent, despite the side effects of his treatment and the unknowns of day-to-day life. Islam’s story underscores the perseverance of the human spirit, demonstrating that hope can grow in the unluckiest of situations. He finds solace in the support of his family and friends; they’re around him, bringing their own struggles and successes, reassuring him that they are in this fight together. “I wish for the war to end swiftly, for life to return to its normal rhythm, and to find another home,” Islam asserts. “I dream of living a normal life and having the opportunity to travel for my cancer treatments.” (Mariele, 2024)

Section 3: Resilience Through Loss

Story: Saida’s Journey

Saida, Gazan mother of eleven, is the embodiment of resilience. When her home was reduced to rubble during an airstrike, she found herself on a desperate quest for survival. Saida was forced to flee on foot, along with her children, through the cold chaotic streets. Saida’s response to what happened to her shows her determination to protect her family, fueling every step she took.

Now living in a cramped tent with little food and medicine, Saida reflects her responsibilities as a mother. Despite the circumstances, she still holds onto her hope for a better tomorrow: “The inability to get medicine for my children just makes their health conditions worse, making each passing day even more challenging than the last,” she adds, “Getting to where I am at now was one of the most terrifying times in my life; I wasn’t sure if we were going to make it.” (Mariele, 2024)

Saida is a resilient woman for all the right reasons: her love for her children. She often engages with them in storytelling about their ancestral home and the life they once had. These are now stories that remind them of what they’ve lost, as well as beacons of hope for what they can rebuild. Saida highlights the profound impact of the war on innocent civilians “The uncertainty of the future weighs heavily on me,” but despite the hardship, she still clings to the hope of returning to her home one day, with the faith that “there will be a forever truce.” (Mariele, 2024)

Section 4: Daily Struggles of Survival

Story: Samer’s Struggle for Normalcy

The story depicts the everyday struggle that families live through during ongoing conflicts. With no option of leaving his beloved country Lebanon, Samer is moving from his coastal home to stay with his parents further south. This puts him closer to the conflict, but “That way, no matter what happens we’re at least together,” he states. “And it helps with trying to minimize our bills.”(Pegna, 2024) Samer chronicles how his family lives one day at a time in a war zone, having lost their home to explosions and now living at the mercy of the elements, using makeshift arrangements and covering shattered windows with nylon, in order to shield his children from the outside chaos, in an attempt to create a semblance of normalcy.

The effects of war, however, still linger in their lives. Samer talks about the anxiety that has entered his children's education – disrupted classes, with fear now a part of their once joyful learning environment. “You're constantly just busy thinking about how to save yourself and your family. You live in anxiety, you live in tension, you live in stress – and it's affecting people's mental health and impacting their focus” (Pegna, 2024). Despite these hardships, Samer remains optimistic, clinging to the belief that they will rebuild their lives once the violence dies down.

This account is about families and communities surviving together in the most overwhelming chaos. Samer tells us about how neighbors come together to support each other with what they’ve got, including offering emotional support. “My dad is stronger, but my mom is very vulnerable to the sounds” (Pegna, 2024), he mentions, showcasing how each individual responds differently to adversity, but also proving the strength they found in solidarity.

Section 5: The Experience of Families

Story: Antoinette’s Journey

A second poignant story details the experience of families affected by the continuing conflict. One woman, Antoinette, recalls her horrifying close escape from South Beirut, as an airstrike bore down on it, describing the chaos and fear that enveloped her family. Despite the bad circumstances, she does not fall apart under the violence she is battered with; instead, she keeps her hopes alive, the hope that things will get better for her children.

Throughout her narrative, collective solidarity comes up time and time again as an important theme, when she explains how her neighbors came together as a group to lend a hand, and how that helped create a feeling of unity during the chaos. Antoinette talks about the struggles her community has been facing: “These days, it is rare to find families who are not in need. In fact, all families are in need,” Antoinette states. “In the south, the villages are now empty. We will only be able to survive by adapting to the limited resources available.” She adds that “securing medical care and medicine is particularly challenging,”(Zukowski, 2024) while also underscoring the resilience that blooms from shared struggles.

Section 6: Displacement and Generational Trauma

Story: Abou Ahmad's Struggle

67 year old Abou Ahmad, a taxi driver from Nabatieh, is sheltered in a school in Bater. His voice sullied with sorrow, he reflects: “This scene is repeating itself from 2006, I came here with my wife and children, and now I’m here with my grandchildren. We’ve had enough of war, displacement, and losing our homes. We can’t afford to rebuild anymore." (Raydan, 2024)

His experiences weigh on him as he talks about how the escalating Israeli strikes have kept him sleepless, worried, and reeling from memories of the past. He confesses to feeling that he has a heavy weight on his chest most of the day, reflecting the holistic toll that war takes on people.

Abou Ahmad’s story is a powerful example of how displacement can create mental health issues so serious that they get expressed as physical symptoms, in need of urgent treatment and resources. The fact that his journey resonates with many who are going through similar experiences is something that shows that what we need most is communal backing – we need understanding.

Section 7: The Mental Health Crisis

The escalating war in Lebanon has done nothing but damage the mental health of all demographics. Dr. Georges Karam, a geriatric psychiatrist and executive director at Beirut-based mental health charity IDRAAC, highlights that loud airstrikes are the top complaint among his patients, causing stress and sleep disruption, and gives insights into the emotional trauma suffered by many people (Le Poidevin, 2024). He explains how the cycle of displacement and violence has made matters worse for those affected and how too many have trouble coping with existing psychological issues.

Samer’s, Antoinette’s, and Abou Ahmad’s stories are just part of the broader well-being crisis that is Lebanon. When presented with a similar situation, individuals resort to coping mechanisms, they seek solace in community support or therapy. War takes a toll on you emotionally; anxiety, depression, and many other forms of health affecting disorders often arise from war, seemingly out of the blue, and the lack of proper mental health resources has only made the situation worse. Dr. Karam’s insights shed light on the urgency of addressing cognitive health in conflict zones, insisting on how healing starts with realizing the pain.

Section 8: Uplifting Communities: Mia Atoui’s Impact

Story: Mia Atoui's Insight

Atoui’s commitment is evident when she talks about the success stories of the persevering individuals she encounters daily. Her work sends out a message that even through the daunting times they go through, there are still people dedicated to uplifting their communities and fostering hope.

With these difficult times, hope comes in the form of Mia Atoui, co-founder of Embrace Lebanon. Her organization offers important therapeutic aid to those who are affected by the war, as the number of cases of anxiety and depression among displaced communities increases. Mia emphasizes the impact of war on mental health, stating, “Most people are experiencing generalized anxiety disorders or depressive disorders, while many others are showing severe trauma symptoms that could easily develop into full-blown PTSD” (Raydan, 2024)

We lean into the stories of resilience she sees daily as she commits to helping others. Mia’s work is a lesson that, in the midst of the darkest times, there are those who refuse to have their optimism obscured. Instead, they dedicate themselves to uplifting their communities and fostering feelings of hope.

Conclusion

Stories within this article depict sheer resilience and the will to persist and fight for dreams and hope, even in times of war. Ibtisam’s bakery, Islam’s battle against cancer, and Saida's harrowing journey represent a human capacity to resist despair. Similarly, the challenges faced by families like Samer’s, Antoinette’s, and Abou Ahmad’s reflect the broader mental health crisis, underscoring the importance of Mia Atoui’s efforts, and emphasizing the need for community support and understanding.

War leaves its mark though, and alongside the scars, Ibtisam, Islam, and Saida demonstrate a gloriously resilient attitude for a more grounded future. Stories of their survival are marked by a commitment to dignity and identity in the face of chaos. We think about these narratives and realize how perseverance, hope, and community are important to fight against adversity. Even in the middle of all this war, the human spirit fights on, able to inspire, uplift, and rebuild even in the worst situations.

In reflecting on those stories, we are reminded of universal human values that bind us together: unity, the will to persevere, and the will to protect our loved ones. These stories are not examples of survival alone; they celebrate the struggles fought and represent the core of what it means to be human: our compassion, our strength, and our never-ending hope for a better tomorrow. Resilience is not only created by shared moral responsibilities, but it is also born out of individual effort. Even in conflict, these stories invite us to see ourselves in others, transcend the divides of geography, and show that embracing our shared humanity leads to a collective rise above the turmoil.

References

Le Poidevin, O. (2024, October 9). Israeli strikes on Lebanon: How to cope with the psychological impact. L’Orient Today. https://today.lorientlejour.com/article/1430449/israeli-strikes-on-lebanon-how-to-cope-with-the-psychological-impact.html

Lebanon: Bread, bravery, and resilience - A Palestinian refugee’s Tale of triumph amidst conflict - islamic relief UK. Islamic Relief Worldwide. (2023, November 29). https://www.islamic-relief.org.uk/lebanon-bread-bravery-and-resilience-a-palestinian-refugees-tale-of-triumph-amidst-conflict/

Mariele. (2024, May 15). Voices from Gaza: A Collective Journal. Anera. https://www.anera.org/blog/voices-from-gaza-a-collective-journal/

Pegna, T. (2024, October 3). Lebanon: Hoping for peace, living in conflict. Tearfund. https://www.tearfund.org/stories/2024/10/lebanon-hoping-for-peace-living-in-conflict

Raydan, R. (2024, October 12). “Hard to just breathe”: Mental health crisis grips Lebanon amid Israel’s war. Al-Monitor. https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2024/10/hard-just-breathe-mental-health-crisis-grips-lebanon-amid-israels-war?token=eyJlbWFpbCI6Im5hamlvZmZpY2lhbDUwMEBnbWFpbC5jb20iLCJuaWQiOiI2NzA2NSJ9&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Ungrouped+transactional+email&utm_content=Ungrouped+transactional+email%2BID_156e08a0-88b2-11ef-85cf-13f0fe47dfdc&utm_source=campmgr&utm_term=Access+Article

Zukowski, G. (2024). How the Gaza conflict is affecting people in Lebanon. Norwegian Refugee Council. https://www.nrc.no/perspectives/2024/how-the-gaza-conflict-is-affecting-people-in-lebanon/