“Many arrived without winter clothes.”
“The majority of the Lebanese who live in Cyprus are settled around Lrancoa, along the Gulf to Paralylini,” the father explains Abu Nader, who sits on his office in the use of the Church of Saint Joseph in Saint Lazaros Square in Lennaka, a city in southern Cyprus.
There are about 35,000 Lebanese in this region and between 13,000 and 15,000 of them are Maronites. Our society has grown in numbers due to war. “He, he is from the Lebanese heritage.
For many families, material support from the Maronite community has become very important, as many have arrived without winter clothes, believing that they will remain a few weeks, and they are still here. We help them pay the rent, provide legal support, and help with medical expenses. This is this. They are the basic needs that people have. “
While talking, his phone flies. “Certainly, I can translate into Arabic!” Scream on the phone. Then, he moved to us with a smile, and adds: “Sorry, the Lebanese have just reached the help of the leaves!”
A few steps away from Saint Lazaros Square, a Lebanese bakery is busy with customers. From the early morning, bake bread with the bid, which is a mixture of herbs – mainly oregano and thyme.
“I came here 21 years ago, and I have always worked in renewal,” says Ronnie Frim, 52, The owner of the Baker, who is preparing to go to the church to distribute bread and other baked goods after the mass. “But in 2017 this store started.”
Rooney used to live in Beirut, but originally from Jezzin, south. He came to Cyprus, he says, because he did not see a future in Lebanon: “There is no hope, and the situation is getting worse. Those who can leave the country.”
In August, Ronnie’s brother arrived at the island with his family. “It started very dangerous to stay there [Lebanon]. Here, we live well, but unfortunately we cannot feel safe here too, the war is not yet. “