In southern Lebanon, where the threat of Israeli attacks looms large, one man has dedicated his life to saving others. Ali Safiuddin, the head of the Civil Defence in Tyre, has seen his fair share of tragedy, including the loss of his own daughter.
Despite the ceasefire, the ‘Yellow Line’, a security zone imposed by Israel, remains a hotspot for frequent bombings and shelling. For Safiuddin, ‘relatively normal’ means that the Israeli military is not directly striking Tyre, but the war continues on its outskirts.
A Career Marked by Loss
Safiuddin’s career in the Civil Defence has been marked by countless Israeli air strikes, and he has grown accustomed to loss. During the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, he lost his one-year-old daughter, Lynn, when Israel struck the Civil Defence centre where his family had taken shelter.
The event continues to haunt him, but it also motivates him to continue his mission to save other lives. ‘I feel that my daughter, my daughter’s soul, is with me,’ he said. In a new short film from Al Jazeera Originals, titled The Ones We Couldn’t Save, Safiuddin shares his story, including the time he saved a girl following the 2020 Beirut explosion.
A Family Affair
Safiuddin’s job is not just about saving lives; it’s also a family affair. His 18-year-old son, Husein, serves alongside him in the Civil Defence, and he refers to all of the men under his authority as ‘sons’. ‘Every one of them spent years with me. They lived beside me. I was not merely their station chief, I was their father,’ he said.
The recent reduction of Israeli attacks has given Safiuddin and his colleagues some respite, but the threat is always present. On April 28, an Israeli double-tap strike killed three of his team members, including Hussein Ghadbouni, Hussein Sati, and Hadi Daher. Israel has repeatedly targeted Lebanon’s first responders and healthcare workers, killing at least 135 of them since March, according to the UN.
For Safiuddin, the work of a first responder is not just a job; it’s a way of life. Despite the risks and the losses, he remains committed to his mission, driven by the memory of his daughter and the hope of saving others. ‘I no longer have any fear. I have no fear. I fear for those with me. But I have no fear of war. If I give up on this work, it’s like I’m giving up on my daughter,’ he said.
