The Basics
From BBC News, the basics on being safe during a war. Which means you will find nothing here about being hunted like an animal or being trapped in a gilded cage.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5229912.stm
Snapshots of Lebanese family life
BBC News website correspondent Martin Asser has been spending time with an ordinary family which has taken to the hills in Lebanon, as the country witnesses some of the worst fighting in its history, between the Hezbollah militant group and Israeli forces.
REMINDER OF CONFLICT
High in the Lebanese mountains, the Bashir family have taken a summer holiday let to get out of Beirut during the Israeli bombardment which has pummelled the southern suburbs of the city.
Faraya, where the family are staying, is a well-known winter sports resort nearly 2,000 metres above sea level.
Normally, it attracts just a few summer visitors - those who want to get away from the sweltering weather on the coast.
The winter sports resort of Faraya is full of summer visitors
But this year, Faraya is packed with middle-class Lebanese putting as much distance as possible between themselves and their families and the conflict zone.
Chalets which normally cost $1,000 for the whole summer now fetch $900 a month.
Though far from the conflict, reminders of war are never far away - most obvious is the fact that Faraya lies under the flight path of Israeli warplanes flying to the Hezbollah stronghold of Baalbek.
On Friday night, the powerful engine noise of at least eight US-made Israeli F-16s rumbled through the mountain passes on their way back from a bombing run.
Mrs Bashir's sister, renting a small flat in the same building, complains that both her young son and 20-year-old daughter came to snuggle up in bed with her for the rest of the night after hearing the noise.
KEEPING IN TOUCH
The mobile phone has become an essential tool in the conflict, with news providers sending SMS messages of latest developments to subscribers and people constantly checking up on the whereabouts of friends and relatives.
The Bashirs' summer accommodation is simple but comfortable
At this time, Mrs Bashir's mother is down in south Lebanon where she has work commitments that override any possibility of fleeing the conflict zone.
Mr Bashir's uncle, meanwhile, is stuck in Syria after Israeli planes again bombed the main road between Beirut and Damascus.
In the early hours of Saturday, Mr Bashir's mobile rings five times, the readout saying "0000 calling" which indicates an international connection.
Since international businessman Mr Bashir makes a point of never answering overseas calls outside office hours, the insistent caller must wait until the morning.
But it turns out to have been a recorded message urging him to help Lebanon's government oust the "strangers" and warning him not to approach Hezbollah areas "for his own safety". The Arabic-speaking voice signs off saying "from the State of Israel".
This is normally the tool of telemarketers and vote-hungry politicians, but I suppose military propagandists were bound to pick up on it sooner or later.
LIFE GOES ON
The Faraya area boasts some marvellous Lebanese restaurants which people drive up to during the weekend to enjoy good food in the clean mountain air.
The Faqra bridge is a breathtaking geological wonder
A determination not to allow Israel 's bombardment to disrupt this sacred tradition means the Chez Shaker restaurant between Faraya and the chic resort of Faqra is full of customers for Saturday lunch.
But there is not the usual exuberance, no music or peels of laughter, that one would expect in such a gathering.
Talk is about how long petrol supplies may last under the Israeli blockade and people's expectations of US diplomacy, with Condoleezza Rice in Israel for another visit.
Some of the family walks home after lunch, past the astonishing Faqra "bridge", a massive natural stone arch carved over millions of years by water cascading from the mountains.
I insist on clambering down with Mr Bashir for a closer look at this phenomenon. But his wife calls after us: "Don't be long. It's the only bridge left in Lebanon the Israelis haven't bombed."
BIG LOSSES
The family tries to keep the atmosphere light, and themselves sane, with jokes and quips about a situation which they see is not of their own making.
The Bashirs are one of Lebanon's inter-confessional couples, he is a Maronite Christian and she's Sunni Muslim (they had to get married abroad as a result), and neither supports the mainly Shia Muslim anti-Israeli resistance spearheaded by Hezbollah.
Chez Shakir restaurant is full but its atmosphere subdued
However, they are outraged by what they see as Israel's reckless bombing of civilian areas in the south and civilian infrastructure in the rest of the country.
The family is likely to face drastic economic losses as a result of the crisis. Mr Bashir's father, for example, expects to lose $30,000 (£16,000) this summer because of the closure of his restaurant in central Beirut, where there are no customers.
"We've had to leave our 300 sq metre flat in Beirut for this tiny chalet, but we don't know how long we're going to have petrol or be able to buy food in the mountains," Mrs Bashir tells me.
"In that case, we'll have to come back down to face the bombs in Beirut, where at least we can walk to the shops... if they still have any food."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5229912.stm
Snapshots of Lebanese family life
BBC News website correspondent Martin Asser has been spending time with an ordinary family which has taken to the hills in Lebanon, as the country witnesses some of the worst fighting in its history, between the Hezbollah militant group and Israeli forces.
REMINDER OF CONFLICT
High in the Lebanese mountains, the Bashir family have taken a summer holiday let to get out of Beirut during the Israeli bombardment which has pummelled the southern suburbs of the city.
Faraya, where the family are staying, is a well-known winter sports resort nearly 2,000 metres above sea level.
Normally, it attracts just a few summer visitors - those who want to get away from the sweltering weather on the coast.
The winter sports resort of Faraya is full of summer visitors
But this year, Faraya is packed with middle-class Lebanese putting as much distance as possible between themselves and their families and the conflict zone.
Chalets which normally cost $1,000 for the whole summer now fetch $900 a month.
Though far from the conflict, reminders of war are never far away - most obvious is the fact that Faraya lies under the flight path of Israeli warplanes flying to the Hezbollah stronghold of Baalbek.
On Friday night, the powerful engine noise of at least eight US-made Israeli F-16s rumbled through the mountain passes on their way back from a bombing run.
Mrs Bashir's sister, renting a small flat in the same building, complains that both her young son and 20-year-old daughter came to snuggle up in bed with her for the rest of the night after hearing the noise.
KEEPING IN TOUCH
The mobile phone has become an essential tool in the conflict, with news providers sending SMS messages of latest developments to subscribers and people constantly checking up on the whereabouts of friends and relatives.
The Bashirs' summer accommodation is simple but comfortable
At this time, Mrs Bashir's mother is down in south Lebanon where she has work commitments that override any possibility of fleeing the conflict zone.
Mr Bashir's uncle, meanwhile, is stuck in Syria after Israeli planes again bombed the main road between Beirut and Damascus.
In the early hours of Saturday, Mr Bashir's mobile rings five times, the readout saying "0000 calling" which indicates an international connection.
Since international businessman Mr Bashir makes a point of never answering overseas calls outside office hours, the insistent caller must wait until the morning.
But it turns out to have been a recorded message urging him to help Lebanon's government oust the "strangers" and warning him not to approach Hezbollah areas "for his own safety". The Arabic-speaking voice signs off saying "from the State of Israel".
This is normally the tool of telemarketers and vote-hungry politicians, but I suppose military propagandists were bound to pick up on it sooner or later.
LIFE GOES ON
The Faraya area boasts some marvellous Lebanese restaurants which people drive up to during the weekend to enjoy good food in the clean mountain air.
The Faqra bridge is a breathtaking geological wonder
A determination not to allow Israel 's bombardment to disrupt this sacred tradition means the Chez Shaker restaurant between Faraya and the chic resort of Faqra is full of customers for Saturday lunch.
But there is not the usual exuberance, no music or peels of laughter, that one would expect in such a gathering.
Talk is about how long petrol supplies may last under the Israeli blockade and people's expectations of US diplomacy, with Condoleezza Rice in Israel for another visit.
Some of the family walks home after lunch, past the astonishing Faqra "bridge", a massive natural stone arch carved over millions of years by water cascading from the mountains.
I insist on clambering down with Mr Bashir for a closer look at this phenomenon. But his wife calls after us: "Don't be long. It's the only bridge left in Lebanon the Israelis haven't bombed."
BIG LOSSES
The family tries to keep the atmosphere light, and themselves sane, with jokes and quips about a situation which they see is not of their own making.
The Bashirs are one of Lebanon's inter-confessional couples, he is a Maronite Christian and she's Sunni Muslim (they had to get married abroad as a result), and neither supports the mainly Shia Muslim anti-Israeli resistance spearheaded by Hezbollah.
Chez Shakir restaurant is full but its atmosphere subdued
However, they are outraged by what they see as Israel's reckless bombing of civilian areas in the south and civilian infrastructure in the rest of the country.
The family is likely to face drastic economic losses as a result of the crisis. Mr Bashir's father, for example, expects to lose $30,000 (£16,000) this summer because of the closure of his restaurant in central Beirut, where there are no customers.
"We've had to leave our 300 sq metre flat in Beirut for this tiny chalet, but we don't know how long we're going to have petrol or be able to buy food in the mountains," Mrs Bashir tells me.
"In that case, we'll have to come back down to face the bombs in Beirut, where at least we can walk to the shops... if they still have any food."
posted by Dana at 3:34 AM
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