University of Birmingham professor addresses ‘terrifying and horrific’ Lebanon attacks
Professor Dina Kiwan has criticised global inaction as the country faces deadly airstrikes and rising trauma
A University of Birmingham professor has addressed the “terrifying and horrific” attacks currently taking place in Lebanon.
Dina Kiwan, a professor in comparative education at the University of Birmingham, spoke out following the ongoing war in the Middle East.
On the 1st October 2024, Israel launched a ground invasion entering through south Lebanon. Israel has described the attack as “limited, localised and targeted”, to bring down Hezbollah, a Lebanese Shia Islamist militant group.
BBC News reports that the ground invasion has been followed by countless airstrikes mainly focused on Beirut, resulting in injured civilians and 23 deaths.
Iran, allies to Lebanon, have fired approximately 200 missiles into Israel, escalating the current situation.
This ongoing conflict hits close to home for Professor Kiwan, with children who are half-Lebanese and a paternal family living in Lebanon. As a result, their family will be leaving south Lebanon, as she told the BBC “nowhere is safe”.
Professor Kiwan said: “It’s absolutely terrifying and horrific. People can’t even really believe [it]. It feels surreal what’s happening, although Lebanon has a long history of often being in these conflict situations.”
She also expressed anger at the situation, claiming the international community doesn’t care and that the citizens feel “utterly trapped”.
Professor Kiwan added that the people of Lebanon have seen the situation in Gaza and that “they just think that they’re trapped and no-one is going to come and help them.”
In the north of Lebanon, people have been seen attempting to flee and trying to get plane tickets to get out of the country. She explained that the situation is terrifying for everyone involved especially those with children.
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She said: “There’s this tremendous desperation and despair with children so, so frightened”.
“It’s not just in the moment, it will affect people for months and years to come, this level of trauma.”
The Israeli Government was contacted by The Tab but has not yet responded.
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