'Children cannot stay depressed': Beirut Christians mark dampened Christmas after Israel war

Cutting through the uncharacteristic darkness and silence, faint Christmas music drifts through the centre of Beirut's suburb of Hadath.

The town is still reeling from Israel's two-month war on Lebanon. Local scouts, attempting to bring as much holiday cheer as they can, organised a small Christmas party in a vocational centre.

Children had their faces painted, teenagers distributed food and young boys competed on a punching machine.

Dania Sabbagh, the centre's owner, told Middle East Eye that they hosted this event "because there are no decorations and no life at all".

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