Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer
Five-year-old Georgio Hado (seated in his mother Nancy Hado's lap), poses with his father Basillios (left) and Liela Younis (right) in the VIP Lounge at the Norman Manley International Airport immediately after arriving from London, England.
The dead children looked like dried-up dolls. I don't know what they use to make those bombs. They seemed to have used suction bombs that takes the air out of a building and brings it right down. - Photo by Janet Silvera
WESTERN BUREAU:
Oblivious to the danger he faced in Lebanon, an innocent Georgio Hado disembarked Air Jamaica flight 002 from London, England, on Friday night right into the arms of his sobbing mother and father, Nancy and Bassilios Hado.
On the front of his green and gold T-shirt the words of the Jamaican Motto, 'Out of Many One People' stared at the dignitaries, family members and media personnel who waited on the ramp to welcome him home.
The five-year-old, his grandparents Maria and George Hado and family friend Leila Younis, had finally touched down on Jamaican soil after five weeks in the war-ravaged Middle East country of Lebanon. The four departed Jamaica on June 24 for vacation in Beirut, Lebanon, and were trapped there since the start of the war between Israel and the militant Shia movement Hezbollah on July 12.
"This is the second happiest day in my life - the day he (Georgio) was born and now," said Bassilios Hado as he wiped fresh tears from his eyes.
Like Mr. Hado, Kingston businessman Sameer Younis showed immense emotion as he touched and hugged his wife Leila. For him the last few days have been really anxious moments. "The route they had to take to Syria was treacherous. at any time the car they were travelling in could have been bombed. I am so happy that they are finally here." He added that he remained optimistic throughout his wife's ordeal.
A glance at Leila Younis showed something much deeper. She seemed at times as if she was back in Beirut, Lebanon. "The devastation I witnessed will live with me for years to come," she told The Sunday Gleaner. Hesitating at times before speaking, she related her experience.
"It was horrifying. the dead children looked like dried-up dolls. I don't know what they use to make those bombs. I don't even want to think about it. they seemed to have used suction bombs that takes the air out of a building and brings it right down."
She said she witnessed a lot of atrocities. "When you sit down and reflect, it gets you angry and very sad."
The mother of five Jamaican children has left behind several family members in Lebanon, a fact she dreads thinking about.
In the case of Maria Hado who fled leaving behind a son, sister and several family members, her worry is about the food that the people in Lebanon need, in particular the pregnant women and children.
"There is no gas, no electricity and the people are running out of food. There is no bread and the Red Cross trucks that are there for humanitarian reasons are being bombed while they are carrying food."
She said the disruption of lives and the destruction is beyond imagination. "They (the Israelis) should be held for war crimes."
Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Senator Delano Franklyn, who was on hand to meet the four, told The Sunday Gleaner that, after such a traumatic experience, there was nothing too good to do for this family.
"When we learnt there were Jamaicans caught in the war in Lebanon, we were in constant contact with the family. We sat and contemplated long and hard how we could facilitate in evacuating them."
Accordingly, he said the next step was to engage the assistance of the British Government, which is what was done. "The British authorities readily agreed, even though they had their own people to evacuate."
