Focus on Africa African domestic workers stranded in Lebanon
Mar 13, 2026
Banchi Yimer, an Ethiopian former domestic worker who founded an NGO for African migrants in Lebanon, shares first‑hand accounts of life under bombardment. She describes being trapped by the kafala system and denied basic services. She highlights barriers to evacuation, widespread abuse and the urgent need for shelters and repatriation.
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Kafala Creates Legal Traps For Migrant Workers
- Lebanon's kafala system ties migrant workers' legal status to employers, blocking job changes and travel without consent.
- Human Rights Watch explained employers often confiscate passports and can file claims that prevent workers leaving the country.
Local Support Networks Are Overwhelmed By The Crisis
- NGOs and community groups are overwhelmed by demand during the bombardment, with thousands requesting emergency assistance.
- Banchi said hotlines are 'exploding' and teams lack resources to shelter or protect migrants.
Migrants Sleeping On Streets With Few Shelters Available
- Some migrants are stuck in bombardment zones or sleeping on streets because there are no shelters for migrants.
- Only a couple of churches opened shelters while most community-run spaces are stretched thin.