In southern Lebanon, just two kilometers from the Israeli border, there once was a small village called Yarun. There, thirteen Christian families lived in peace, sharing life with their Muslim neighbors. But today, Yarun no longer exists. Satellite images show only rubble: where there were homes, a church, a monastery, and a Catholic school, now there is a sea of ruins. The Israeli army completely razed the village, and its inhabitants were expelled without being able to take even a memento.
María De León Menéndez, originally from Guatemala, arrived in Yarun in 2009 fleeing gang violence. There she found refuge and started a family. But after the Hamas attacks in October 2023, the village became trapped in the crossfire between Hezbollah and the Israeli army. Fifty Christian families and fifty Muslim families fled in terror. María recalls: 'It was a year and a half of wandering. Some took refuge in Beirut, others stayed nearby, and some made it to northern Lebanon.'
In March 2025, María and twelve other Christian families gathered the courage to return. But it didn't last long. Exactly a year later, another conflict erupted, and an immediate evacuation order forced them to flee again. At dawn on March 3, bombs fell on their neighboring building. María had only minutes to escape. 'I didn't turn on the light. And I regret it every day,' she says. 'I was afraid that if I turned on the light, it would draw the attention of the Israeli army. I just grabbed my papers, because there was no time for anything else, and I left, taking one last look at the house where I had lived with my family for over fifteen years. And even so, I felt that, unlike last time, we would not return...'
The Exodus of Christians in the Middle East
The story of Yarun is not an isolated case. Christians in the Middle East have been displaced and persecuted for decades. From the civil war in Syria to the rise of the Islamic State in Iraq, entire communities have had to leave their homes. Lebanon, which once had a significant Christian population, has seen many of its faithful emigrate in search of safety. According to humanitarian organizations, more than half of Lebanese Christians have left the country in the last thirty years.
The current situation worsens this trend. The displaced families from Yarun now live in Rmeish, a village five kilometers to the north, where there are also Israeli operations, but the situation is tolerable. However, uncertainty is constant. 'People don't want to flee; they say this is their ancestral land,' explains María. But fear and violence force them to move again and again.
What Does the Bible Say About Displacement?
The Bible is full of stories of people who had to leave their homes because of war or persecution. Abraham was called to leave his land (Genesis 12:1). The people of Israel experienced the exodus from Egypt. And Jesus himself was a refugee when his parents fled to Egypt to escape Herod (Matthew 2:13-15). These stories remind us that God walks with the displaced and refugees, and that as a Christian community, we are called to welcome and comfort them.
'Do not oppress the foreigner, for you know the heart of the foreigner, since you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.' (Exodus 23:9, NIV)
This verse challenges us to remember our own history of displacement and to treat those who flee with compassion and justice. In a world where borders are closing and refugees are viewed with suspicion, Christians should be the first to open doors.
A Reflection for Today
The story of María and Yarun confronts us with the fragility of life and peace. It invites us to pray for those who suffer and to act in solidarity. What can we do? We can support organizations that help displaced families, advocate for peaceful solutions, and welcome refugees in our own communities. Let us not forget that in every displaced person, we meet Christ who was also a refugee.
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