Lebanese Australians Relive War Trauma Amid Renewed Conflict
Melbourne, Australia – Israel’s ongoing bombing campaign in Lebanon has deeply affected Australia’s Lebanese community, many of whom have vivid memories of past wars. In suburbs like Sydney’s Bankstown and Melbourne’s Coburg, where the Lebanese diaspora is prominent, the violence has sparked anguish and sleepless nights.
Michael Kheirallah, chairman of the Victorian Lebanese Community Council, highlighted the emotional toll, saying, “The community is glued to the news. Many have family in Lebanon and are traumatized by memories of past conflicts.”
Lebanese Australians, numbering about 250,000, have a long history in the country, with significant migration during Lebanon’s 1975-1990 Civil War. These experiences of displacement and violence are now being reignited as images of destruction and displacement flood news and social media.
Evacuations Highlight Scale of Crisis
The Australian government has evacuated over 3,400 citizens, residents, and their families from Lebanon since