Oxfam staff having a conversation with Awad, Deir Mimas resident about the war and the water shortage.

Water is my life. I need it to wash, drink, cook, and clean. We finally felt safe again when water returned

— Awad, resident of Deir Mimas

4 mins read time
Published: 5th July 2025
Blog by Samantha Andrades

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Water Is Life: The Human Cost of Conflict in Deir Mimas

For seven long months, the village of Deir Mimas in southern Lebanon lived without water or electricity. The town’s only municipal generator was destroyed by an Israeli strike during the 2024 66-day war on Lebanon, plunging the community into a crisis they had to pay the price for even after the ceasefire.

A house in Deir Mimas was burnt during the September War.

After the strike, all 150 houses in Deir Mimas relied on water trucking from a nearby stream based on the municipality of Deir Mimas. Those who could afford it paid as much as $10 for just ten gallons, a staggering price in a country already grappling with economic hardship and in a village that was ceased by Israeli forces. For others, water was a scarce resource, rationed to once a week or less. Without access to a reliable water supply, basic daily tasks like washing hands, cooking, and bathing became a struggle that shaped every moment of life.

For seven months, there was no water. We had no tanks or supply lines. We relied on each other and water trucking from the stream. I transported 2,000 litres every week, just so we could wash, shower, and survive.

— Awad, a resident of Deir Mimas

Awad could not leave Deir Mimas when the war started as he had no place to go and he built his life and routine in his village.

The crisis forced some families to leave, not only because of bombings but because survival without water was impossible. “Water is life,” Awad says.

The disruption wasn’t just an inconvenience, it was a matter of survival and dignity. Families showered on strict schedules, rationing every drop. Medical care became inaccessible as pharmacies and hospitals closed, pushing more residents to abandon their homes. “I would have preferred to die than to leave,” Awad confesses. But they returned on the day of the ceasefire, only to find water and electricity still unavailable.

Then came hope. Oxfam stepped in to repair the destroyed generator, restoring water and electricity to the village. “When we received the generator, we had water for the first time in months. We were very happy. For us, water was more important than electricity,” Awad shares. The financial burden of buying expensive trucked water disappeared overnight.

Hiyam, Awad’s wife and a resident of Deir Mimas, speaks of the profound relief water brought: “Water is my life. I need it to wash, drink, cook, and clean. We finally felt safe again when water returned.” The restoration of this necessity has encouraged displaced families to come back home and begin rebuilding their lives.

Hiyam explained that her life changed during the war, at some point she and her family had to hide in the house as Israeli forces entered the village and started destroying the trees and the houses. Her son’s wife who was also pregnant back then had no access to any medical services as the village and nearby areas were heavily bombed.

The story of Deir Mimas is a stark reminder that wars are not only fought on the front lines but in the everyday lives of civilians who suffer the destruction of vital infrastructure. Water during crises becomes a lifeline that sustains communities and dignity.