As violence escalates between Israel and Hezbollah, Sierra Leonean migrant workers in Lebanon find themselves trapped in the conflict, displaced and desperate to return home.

Jariatu Koroma, a 21-year-old mother from Freetown, fled heavy bombardments in southern Beirut, seeking refuge in a makeshift shelter with her infant daughter. Now living in a dilapidated warehouse with over 175 other displaced Sierra Leoneans, she describes the challenging conditions and the uncertainty surrounding their future. "We are grateful for the food and supplies," she said, gesturing to the crowded room filled with mattresses and donated goods.

The ongoing war, which began on September 23, has devastated Lebanon, leaving over a million people displaced and thousands dead. Among those affected are 17,500 migrant workers, many from Sierra Leone, now stranded in a foreign land without the means to escape.

Complicating their situation is Lebanon’s "kafala" system, which has trapped many migrants by withholding their passports and wages. Like many others, Koroma is eager to return home but lacks the necessary documentation and resources. "I want to return to my country," she said, voicing the desperation of others in the shelter.

The Sierra Leonean consulate in Beirut is working with international organizations to help repatriate the most vulnerable migrants, but the process is slow. Volunteers running the shelter report an overwhelming need for medical and psychological support as the number of displaced individuals continues to grow.

Among them is Susan Baimda, a 37-year-old mother of four who hasn’t seen her children in Freetown for three years. "Let me go back to them," she pleaded, exhausted by the conflict and yearning to reunite with her family.

As the war drags on, the fate of these Sierra Leonean migrant workers remains uncertain, but their determination to return home and reunite with their families remains unshaken.