A heart-wrenching scene unfolded at the Leopold Sedar Senghor International Airport in Dakar as families were reunited after escaping the escalating conflict in Lebanon. Hussein Hachem, a grieving father, hugged his injured daughter, Mariam, who arrived on a repatriation flight to Senegal. Tragically, his 14-year-old son did not make it, lost in a bombing that destroyed their home.
As Israeli forces intensified their offensive against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, Senegal repatriated 117 of its citizens. The Senegalese government condemned the bombardment of civilians and infrastructure in Lebanon, reaffirming their historical ties to Lebanon and Palestine. Senegal’s foreign minister, Yassine Fall, spoke out against the violence, labeling it a genocide and calling for a ceasefire in the region.
The conflict, which started in Gaza and spread to Lebanon, prompted demonstrators to march through Dakar in a plea for peace and justice for Lebanon and Gaza. The world watches as families are torn apart, hospitals are bombed, and innocent lives are lost, highlighting the urgent need for a resolution to the crisis.