Many people’s lives have been upended by the continuing conflict in Lebanon, especially the lives of overseas students from Africa. In the midst of rising violence, students who were formerly intent on achieving academic success are now faced with the daunting prospect of facing an unknown future. Zimbabwean student Farai Makamba, 27, is just one of many impacted by the unrest.
Confrontation and Academic Disruption
A master’s student in mechanical engineering, Farai Makamba spent the summer of 2024 in Harare, Zimbabwe, before returning to Beirut in September of that year. After Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023, the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah escalated, and he wished for a resolution to the crisis. But things have become worse, as Lebanon has seen its worst fighting days in 20 years. According to Najib Mikati, prime minister of Lebanon, more than one million people have fled their homes as a result of the fighting.
All around the nation, regular life has been thrown into disarray by the rising violence. Israeli warplanes have recently carried out widespread operations in southern Lebanon and the Beqaa region, destroying Hezbollah facilities. Tensions rose even higher after an airstrike killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Meanwhile, the population is in a state of anxiety and uncertainty due to the explosions that have occurred in Hezbollah’s communication devices, including pagers and walkie-talkies.
Students Worries Are on the Rise
African students in Lebanon are making decisions amidst these turbulent times. The continuing fighting has badly delayed schooling, leaving many uncertain about whether to return home or stay and finish it. About ninety African students participate in a scholarship program at AUB, where Mr. Makamba studies.
The airstrikes and explosions in Beirut have left many fearful.
The terror among pupils has grown substantially due to the continual sound of explosives and the persistent prospect of surprise strikes. Makamba brought attention to the unpredictability of everyday life by mentioning how even mundane activities, like hailing a cab or striking up conversations with total strangers, can feel risky. “We don’t know who is carrying a ticking time bomb in their pockets,” he said, describing the rising degree of unease among students. Could this be your cab driver? Could this be your Uber driver? Who is it that you’re currently strolling alongside?
Challenges Faced in Daily Life
Students like Farai Makamba have seen significant changes to their daily routines. Online learning has replaced traditional classroom instruction. As a result of the airstrikes, some public institutions, including AUB, have shut down or been converted into shelters for conflict refugees.
Students have had little choice but to adjust to online classes while the campus has been closed, but even that isn’t without its difficulties. No part of life is immune to fear; online lessons are no exception. The disturbing new trend at the end of class is for everyone to wish each other safety instead of just a good day.
Bread, pasta, and bottled water are just a few of the necessities that Mr. Makamba has begun to accumulate in anticipation of possible food shortages. The air is thick with tension as students bravely brave the outside for really essential tasks. Many people are anxious about the future since they don’t know when the next strike will happen.
A Catch-22 for International Students
Though many face formidable obstacles, returning home is a possibility for many overseas students. Problems with power, the internet, and academic requirements make distant study practically difficult, which has worried several African students about finishing their degrees remotely.
These are also the worries of Sharon Atyang, a master’s student from northern Uganda who is 27 years old. She elaborated on how her home country’s inadequate infrastructure would greatly hinder her ability to earn a degree in community development. She also doesn’t know whether, even if things were to calm down, she would be able to go back to Lebanon. Many students, like Sharon, are unsure of whether to leave Lebanon or remain in a war zone so they may get an education.
Adele Pascaline from Cameroon isn’t the only student who’s having trouble in class. To earn her bachelor’s degree in radiology, she must finish her clinical rotations. Her future opportunities would be severely limited if she returned home before completing this essential part of her schooling.
Obstacles in the Form of Money and Logistics
Countless African students at AUB receive financial support from the Mastercard Foundation, which keeps a careful eye on developments and coordinates with the university to guarantee the security of its scholars. In spite of the setbacks, the institution has made arrangements to ensure that classes will continue as usual. Help is being provided to international students who want to go back home. On the other hand, it’s not guaranteed that they’ll be able to finish their coursework remotely.
Tickets are difficult to come by despite the fact that planes departing from Beirut’s international airport are still running. Those trying to leave the nation are finding it difficult since flights on major airlines, including Lufthansa, Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Air France, have been grounded. In spite of everything, a handful of students have booked flights back to their home countries because they are afraid things will get worse.
Living with Chronic Stress and Trauma
The psychological toll of living in a combat zone is exacerbated for students like Sharon Atyang by the persistent sound of fighter jets overhead. She describes the daily terror that students face by telling the story of how she hid in a restroom as soon as she heard the sonic boom of an Israeli fighter jet breaking the sound barrier.
Final Thoughts: Educating People Amidst Conflict
The lives of African students who were aiming for academic achievement have been turned upside down by the strife in Lebanon. Their precarious condition is further complicated by the anxiety, doubt, and unknowns they must overcome. No matter what they decide—to stay in Lebanon or go back home—the future is full of unknowns. No one knows if students will have the financial means to finish their degrees, even if colleges and scholarship programs are trying their best to help.
