A humanitarian mission organized by Vatican officials was compelled to retreat Tuesday when artillery fire erupted near a Christian community in southern Lebanon that has been cut off from essential supplies.
The relief convoy, coordinated through the Vatican’s Lebanese embassy, was attempting to reach the town of Debel with desperately needed provisions when nearby combat forced the mission to abort, according to Father Fadi Falfil, a local priest.
Christian communities across southern Lebanon have remained in their homes throughout the intensifying conflict between Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters, hoping their neutrality might protect them from the violence engulfing neighboring areas.
However, ongoing military operations and aerial bombardments in surrounding regions have made transportation extremely hazardous, creating severe shortages of food, clean water, and medical supplies.
“We don’t have basic medication like insulin – we don’t even have drinking water,” Father Falfil stated in an interview.
The priest explained that the relief mission was initially scheduled for Easter Sunday but had to be postponed due to intense artillery activity in the region.
“We were waiting all day, and they were at pains all day to try to get this aid to us. It was five minutes away and it had to turn back,” Falfil described.
According to the priest’s briefing, Israeli military operations targeting Hezbollah fighters in the vicinity prevented the delivery from proceeding, with no alternative date currently established for another attempt.
Neither Israeli military officials, Hezbollah representatives, nor Vatican embassy personnel in Lebanon provided immediate responses to media inquiries.
The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, designated as UNIFIL, was providing security escort for Tuesday’s humanitarian convoy.
“The mission had to be cut short due to shelling in the area. We did have some very minor injuries among peacekeepers due to the impacts nearby,” explained UNIFIL spokesperson Kandice Ardiel.
Lebanese television network MTV reported the aid shipment contained three trucks loaded with essential items including bread and fresh vegetables.
“No matter what happens, we’re going to stay. We stay because of our faith and our history here – it isn’t a choice, it’s a message,” Father Falfil declared.
