Public Project
The discarded woman of Lebanon
Summary
The Discarded Woman of Lebanon
https://www.nytimes.com/card/2024/12/16/world/middleeast/lebanon-migrant-workers-israel-warIn September, as Israeli bombs rained down on Lebanon, many Lebanese fled—leaving behind the migrant women who cleaned their homes and cooked their meals.
Some workers were locked out or told to stay as the airstrikes intensified. Those without shelter often ended up sleeping in southern Beirut, a Hezbollah stronghold under bombardment.
The cease-fire brought little change. Many returned to find their workplaces destroyed.
Lebanon hosts around 200,000 migrant domestic workers, mostly women, under the kafala (sponsorship) system. Many had their passports confiscated, were underpaid, and given no days off—some say they were abused.
Despite the risks, for many, working abroad still seems better than the lack of options back home.
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