Deventer man cancels his trip to Lebanon after the outbreak of violence: it is irresponsible

Deventer, Martijn Ubels 12 October 2023, 19:00                  

Deventer man cancels trip to Lebanon with veterans

After the outbreak of violence: 'History is repeating itself'.

Bert Kleine Schaars, who lives in Averlo near Deventer, says that the violence in and around Israel is history repeating itself.
In the early 1980s, Kleine Schaars was working for the United Nations in Lebanon.
That was also a tense time in the Middle East.
"We were going to make our annual trip to Lebanon with the veterans in the next few days. We are worried".

                                         © archive/FOTO HISSINK

Now that the authorities have raised the travel advisory for southern Lebanon to red, the trip has been cancelled. Meanwhile, since the end of last month, a container of aid has been on its way to Beirut, Lebanon's capital.
It is partly filled with items collected by the Veterans for Lebanon foundation.
Kleine Schaars is on the board of the foundation. He said: "I will be there next week to distribute these items to an orphanage and schools.
I expect it to go well without us, but it is useful to be there and it is good for contacts. There's all sorts of things in there. Laptops, school supplies, furniture, sportswear.

Veterans for Lebanon was set up so that former Unifil troops could meet on a regular basis and look back at the early 1980s. That was also a time of turmoil in the region.
Under the UN flag, Dutch soldiers had to maintain peace and tranquillity in Lebanon.
Kleine Schaars says that for some, the contact helps them to come to terms with painful memories.

He calls the situation around Israel a powder keg and deplores the violence. "History repeating itself. It is such a complicated conflict.
It is unfolding mainly in Gaza. But you could wait for a reaction from Lebanon.
The only solution is for all parties to seek dialogue. Because of the violence, this is more and more out of sight".

The worst, says Kleine Schaars, is that the population is getting victimised. "This is how it always happens.
There is nothing most people can do about it. They are so fed up with the violence that has dominated the region for so long. They want peace.
They have seen in the last few years that Lebanon, despite all the poverty that still exists, is on the way up, also economically".

Unifil was in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah now attacks Israel from that part of the country. "Every year we go to the south of Lebanon with a group of veterans.
We combine that with visits to other places around the country, such as cultural sites. We also want to see the beautiful things that the country has to offer".

Kleine Schaars has the impression that the shelling near the Lebanese border is "under control" for now. The trouble spot is Gaza. ,,
But you never know how something like this is going to turn out," he says.

Kleine Schaars admits: "Compared to the misery and casualties in the Middle East, the dangers are peanuts for the Foundation."
"I am now busy trying to find out from Transavia whether we can re-book the trip for next year". An increasing number of veterans are applying to the foundation for a return trip. "This may be because people are getting closer to retirement and have more time on their hands."
And in the Netherlands, this somewhat forgotten period is receiving more attention. Kleine Schaars, for example, wrote a book about the Unifil period. "We went in two groups of more than 30 people. That was quite a lot.
The first group would leave on Friday. I would go with the second group the following week.

The Foundation is considering new aid operations in view of the current situation.

Some comments from readers:

Jeroen Schuitemaker:
I hope that Lebanon will not be involved. I was there in April, and when you see how South Lebanon has been rebuilt, it would be a shame to see it destroyed again.

Jos Thomassen:
Hopefully Hezbollah and other groups in Lebanon will keep quiet. It would be very sad to see the already poverty-stricken country dragged further into misery. These people don't deserve it. By the way, a trip to Lebanon is highly recommended. Georges Farah is a fantastic guide to this beautiful country.