Simone (Italy) and Rabee (Syria) waiting to start the march at the Tripolis corniche, Lebanon.

DAY 230

12.08.2017; Tripolis - Deir Aamar, Lebanon. Closer and closer to the border with Syria. The plan was to leave Tripoli and continue marching north, reach refugee camp near the border and visit Malaak education center nearby. On this piece we were supported by the team from Operazione Colomba (Operation Dove) who help Syrian refugees in Lebanon. Unfortunately, after 8km of marching, the group was stopped by the Lebanese security forces. First we were invited to talks with an army officer. It took some time as he was trying to get information about what are the options. In the meantime we were offered a meal and drinks, air conditioned space was a relief, but we couldnt go further. Next we were invited to the municipality but with no better output. All official were saying: you can't march further, no one can guarantee your safety north from the spot. Anna called Polish consule, Malika tried with French...but anybody could help. Well, Lebanon is defnitely not a marchers-pedestrian friendly country. Instead its very car-friendly, so we decided to reach the border as everyone else in Lebanon - by cars.

Simone (Italy) and Rabee (Syria) waiting to start the march at the Tripolis corniche, Lebanon.
lebanon august 230 cmfa civilmarchforaleppo alexander rabee tripolis
Simone (Italy), Malika (France) and Jasmine (Germany) waiting to start marching, early morning on the Tripolis corniche.
lebanon august 230 cmfa civilmarchforaleppo simone malika jasmine operazionecolomba
Morning CMFA circle.
lebanon august 230 cmfa civilmarchforaleppo hanna anna ismahan malika tripolis circle
Morning CMFA circle.
lebanon august 230 cmfa civilmarchforaleppo suzanne simone alexander
Morning CMFA circle.
lebanon august 230 cmfa civilmarchforaleppo rabee jasmine alex malika anna hanna ismahan group
Leaving Tripolis.
lebanon august 230 cmfa civilmarchforaleppo malika ismahan group flag tripolis
Strong Italian support - the "Operazione Colomba" team.
lebanon august 230 cmfa civilmarchforaleppo Operazione Colomba Tripolis alexander Simone
Malika (France) leaving Tripolis.
lebanon august 230 cmfa civilmarchforaleppo malika flag tripolis
A common view in Lebanon - palms and youngtimer Mercedes-Benz cars.
lebanon august 230 cmfa civilmarchforaleppo cars
Suzanne (Germany) and Malika (France) leaving Tripolis.
lebanon august 230 cmfa civilmarchforaleppo malika flag suzanne
Malika (France) leaving Tripolis.
lebanon august 230 cmfa civilmarchforaleppo malika flag tripolis
Shocked with the hospitality and generosity.
lebanon august 230 cmfa civilmarchforaleppo alex ismahan alexander
Anna and Rabee enjoy 15 minutes break. We were offred drinks and food, amazing Lebanese hospitality!
lebanon august 230 cmfa civilmarchforaleppo rabee anna hospitality break
Rabee (Syria) during a break.
lebanon august 230 cmfa civilmarchforaleppo refugee Syrian
Anna (Poland) during a break on the way north.
lebanon august 230 cmfa civilmarchforaleppo malika anna jasmine
Group photo with Lebanese who offered us drinks and snacks on the way.
lebanon august 230 cmfa civilmarchforaleppo malika Ismahan anna Operazione Colomba Alexander Alex Jasmine Simone Suzanne Hanna Rabee
Marching north.
lebanon august 230 cmfa civilmarchforaleppo flag
Lebanon road landscape.
lebanon august 230 cmfa civilmarchforaleppo road cars
The group marching near Deir Aamar, Lebanon.
lebanon august 230 cmfa civilmarchforaleppo Deir Aamar
Malika (France) marching near Deir Aamar, Lebanon.
lebanon august 230 cmfa civilmarchforaleppo malika deir aamar
The group marching near Deir Aamar, Lebanon.
lebanon august 230 cmfa civilmarchforaleppo ismahan deir aamar
The group marching near Deir Aamar, Lebanon.
lebanon august 230 cmfa civilmarchforaleppo Deir Aamar
5 minutes break near Deir Aamar.
lebanon august 230 cmfa civilmarchforaleppo alexander deir aamar
Anna (Poland) resting in the hot.
lebanon august 230 cmfa civilmarchforaleppo anna tired sleeping deir aamar
Security man waving CMFA flag while the group was forced to stop marching and was invited to wait for further instructions in the Deir Aamar municipality.
lebanon august 230 cmfa civilmarchforaleppo flag deir aamar
Anna (Poland), Rabee (Syria), Suzanne (Germany) and Hanna (France) waiting for the decision of Lebanese municipality and security forces permission to march further.
lebanon august 230 cmfa civilmarchforaleppo rabee deir aamar anna suzanne hanna
After putting a lot of effort, hours of discussing, trying to find a solution to the situation, slowly came doubts if we will be able to continue. It seemd like there is no option to go further, the Civil March for Aleppo, was to end in Deir Aamar, stopped by local authorities.
lebanon august 230 cmfa civilmarchforaleppo alexander anna deir aamar
Fierce discussion about the situation.
lebanon august 230 cmfa civilmarchforaleppo rabee deir aamar alex suzanne
Ismahan (France) and Hanna (France) listening to the output of Anna's fight to make further marching possible.
lebanon august 230 cmfa civilmarchforaleppo ismahan deir aamar hanna
Ismahan (France) proposing an idea.
lebanon august 230 cmfa civilmarchforaleppo ismahan deir aamar
Alexander (Italy) from "Operazione Colomba" showed "cold blood". On the basis of his experiences he proposed to give up marching and to reach the north by cars. Most reasonable solution but it meant "no more marching" for the Civil March for Aleppo.
lebanon august 230 cmfa civilmarchforaleppo alexander deir aamar
Anna, the founder of the CMFA, finally gave up the fight. Polish consulate refused to help us. It meant one - no more marching north.
lebanon august 230 cmfa civilmarchforaleppo anna deir aamar
Anna (Poland) waiting for the bus that were to take the group back to Tripolis.
lebanon august 230 cmfa civilmarchforaleppo anna deir aamar
Being uncertain about the final step of the march, waiting for the bus that were to take the group back to Tripolis.
lebanon august 230 cmfa civilmarchforaleppo alex jasmine malika deir aamar
Waiting for the bus that were to take the group back to Tripolis.
lebanon august 230 cmfa civilmarchforaleppo malika deir aamar
Simone (Italy) and Alex (Germany) on the way back to Tripolis.
lebanon august 230 cmfa civilmarchforaleppo deir aamar
On the way back to Tripolis.
lebanon august 230 cmfa civilmarchforaleppo deir aamar
Team in the accomodation place - Rabee's place in Tripolis.
lebanon august 230 cmfa civilmarchforaleppo malika rabee tripolis accomodation jasmine hanna

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