Every morning, Soubhiye Zeiter, a 63-year-old grandmother displaced by the Israel-Hezbollah war, begins her day with coffee and quiet moments beside a small table outside her tent in Beirut. But soon, dozens line up for her homemade mana'eesh, a traditional Lebanese flatbread, which she gives away for free.
Zeiter fled her home in Beirut's southern suburbs with 15 family members at the start of the war, which has displaced over one million people. Initially seeking aid, she decided instead to bake bread for her family and others in need, using a traditional metal griddle. She now produces up to 3,500 mana'eesh daily with a donated gas-powered oven.
What began as a solitary effort has grown into a community initiative, supported by donations of ingredients and equipment. Volunteers help roll dough and package bread, creating a bustling bakery atmosphere among the blue tents of the settlement. Even the Beirut governor visited for coffee.
Zeiter emphasises the importance of maintaining morale and community spirit despite displacement. She insists on brewing extra coffee to share with passersby and decorates her table with flowers to evoke memories of home. The sounds of drones and ongoing strikes serve as constant reminders of the conflict, but she remains focused on caring for others.
