Beirut Neighbourhood Rejects Displacement Centre Amid Sectarian Tensions

Beirut, Lebanon - The cancellation of a government-planned displacement centre in the Karantina neighbourhood has sparked concerns over sectarian tensions and demographic changes in the area. The centre, intended to house people displaced by Israel's war, was met with opposition from local residents and politicians, who cited reasons such as increased traffic and health concerns.

However, underlying the opposition were sectarian motivations, with some of Karantina's Christian population objecting to the presence of predominantly Shia Muslim displaced individuals. The controversy has drawn parallels to the 1975-1990 Lebanese Civil War, with some protesters using sectarian slogans reminiscent of the language used during that time.

History of Sectarian Tensions

Karantina, a historically mixed district, was the site of the 1976 Karantina massacre, in which an estimated 1,000 to 3,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed by the right-wing Phalange movement. The area has since become predominantly Christian and Sunni Muslim, but the trauma of the war still lingers.

According to Diala Lteif, a research fellow at the Margaret Anstee Centre for Global Studies, the current rhetoric directed towards displaced people in Karantina is reminiscent of the civil war. "This foundational logic that areas need to be segregated is the logic that motivated the [Karantina] massacre," she said.

Fears of Renewed Violence

The cancellation of the displacement centre has raised concerns that the violence may push Lebanese communities into a confrontation or even civil war. The fear is exacerbated by the fact that Israel has targeted displaced Lebanese, leading many to believe that hosting their compatriots may bring increased danger to their own homes and families.

Some, however, are welcoming the displaced. A nearby displacement centre, run by the Lebanese charity Offre Joie, has taken in around 1,000 displaced people from southern Lebanon, Beirut's southern suburbs, and the Bekaa Valley. The centre has had no problems with the local community, and some of the displaced individuals even work with the charity to help manage themselves.

Nadine, a 30-year-old displaced woman, spoke about her experience at the centre. "For now, we're staying here. You can't go back there [to her home] because there is danger, but now, of course, nowhere is safe. But some places are better than others. We'll be patient. We'll endure," she said.