Amal's story

Amal recalls the moment the strike hit. “A rocket hit an area close to it [our home] during the war. Half of it was destroyed and we couldn’t continue living there. We were inside the house when it happened.  

It was a normal day, each one of us was in our room. I suddenly heard the sound of a fighter jet, so I ran to warn my family. We were used to air strikes, but they were usually far from us. But that day, I heard a subtle sound [coming from the fighter jet], so I ran to warn them [my family]. Then everything turned dark and all I could see was rocks and glass [rubble] falling down on us.” 

Trapped inside the collapsing house, the sisters feared they would not survive. “We started shouting, calling each other, so we could know that we were alive. We couldn't breathe, and we were unable to open the door, we struggled until we finally managed to get out of the house. I thought we were under the rubble, after the hit, as it was very dark. We thought we were going to need someone to save us.” 

Lala remembers the terror of being separated from her family in the chaos. “Rocks. It fell on our hair, and our hands. My sister was in the room which was totally destroyed. She kept running and screaming: ‘Look out! There is an attack!’  

I suddenly found myself in a different room due to the immense pressure from the bombing. I started shouting, calling for my mother, my sister, and my cousins. But no one was answering. Then I felt glass cutting my feet, and rocks flying around. Then after the dust settled we started calling for our mother once again, and she responded that time.” 

Amal describes the pain as the shockwave passed through her body. “Then I felt horrible pressure and pain in my back, and I felt that my legs were wet. I found that my hands were covered in blood.” Lala was injured too. “Also, when we ran to our neighbour’s house just in case they hit our house again, we ran barefoot, and without head covers. Our feet were hurt even more by the glass fragments and rocks outside.” Both sisters needed stitches. Their home, however, was beyond repair. 

After the attack, the family fled to another area. But the trauma followed them. “After the strike we used to wake up screaming and crying in the middle of the night,” Amal says. “If we hear the sound of thunder, we would think it was another attack. Even in the new place we used to hear the jets breaking the sound barrier. It was very scary.” 

The sisters describe ongoing physical and emotional symptoms of trauma. “There are also fast heartbeats,” Lala explains. She remembers how deeply the fear affected her sister. “Even before the attack, her temperature would rise just by hearing the sounds of the fighter jets.” 

Amal speaks of living in constant terror. “Every time I heard the sound of a rocket I'd automatically say to myself, ‘That's it... That's the end.’” When the strike finally hit their home, the fear became overwhelming. “I was in a state of shock, I thought I was going to die at any moment. I was very frightened... I'd cry and scream uncontrollably when anyone talked to me.” She began to withdraw completely.  

For a long time, Amal didn’t want to leave her room, see friends, or continue her education. Loud noises still frighten her.

War Child and its partner, The Lebanese Organisation for Studies and Training (LOST), stepped in to support the family. 

The support began with practical help, food and a gas stove, but it didn’t stop there.  

A caseworker began visiting regularly, giving the sisters someone to talk to. Through simple activities like drawing, colouring, listening to music, and practising breathing exercises when they feel afraid, the sisters slowly began to feel calmer. They have also started sessions with a psychologist to help them understand their feelings and find ways to feel safe again. 

A year later, Amal is studying again. She passed her exams with 85% and got into university to study biology. Her physical symptoms of trauma have mostly gone, and she has started to go out and see friends once again.