Rana Jouni

Lebanon – In the heart of danger, inside the kitchen of the "Popular Rescue" Hospital in Nabatieh, Khairieh Ghamloush and Wafaa Frayj decided to remain steadfast in southern Lebanon, choosing daily work preparing food for patients, the wounded, rescue teams, and journalists as a form of humanitarian resistance. They refused to leave the land of southern Lebanon, which is facing a harsh war, and entered the hospital kitchen defying danger, despite the acute shortage of raw materials and the difficulty of accessing them due to dangerous roads.

Among cooking pots, Khairieh Ghamloush continues her work with steadiness and calm. She says she works hard for the youth, employees, and medical staff, affirming her keenness to make everyone feel as comfortable as possible under the difficult circumstances they are living through.

She explains that she started working from the first day of the war and continues without retreat. Despite the pain of being away from her family, siblings, and children, she affirms that she has stayed in her place and continues her work with sincerity.

Khairieh Ghamloush does not hide the amount of effort she exerts, affirming that fatigue is always with them, and sometimes it is severe, but she feels great relief when the food is ready and everyone eats – only then does she realize that all her effort was not in vain.

Regarding the difficulties of work, she points out that securing materials, food, and even the route is not easy, explaining that the girls help her in all tasks, from cutting onions and garlic to preparing supplies, while she helps them serve food and complete the work in a collective spirit.

Regarding women's role in wartime, she affirms that women have a fundamental role, and they are not on the margins. Her wish, she sums up sincerely: "that the war ends, everyone returns to their homes, and peace prevails."

"Let us stand together"

In another testimony, Wafaa Frayj, a cook at the hospital, says she decided to come and stay alongside the steadfast, "to stand together." She affirms that what she is doing is for the homeland and for the children to live in safety and freedom.

She points out that they have chosen to work as one hand, and they exert their effort daily to serve children, the wounded, patients, and anyone in need of help. They start their work at six in the morning to prepare meals and secure food for everyone, despite the difficult roads and scarce resources.

She explains that food, however simple, is prepared with sincere intention, because it gives strength and energy. Under these difficult circumstances, a little becomes a blessing, a meaning of life, and proof of human resilience in the face of war.