On September 22, 2024, Hassan was born in the halls of Jabal Amel Hospital in Tyre, southern Lebanon. There, he took his first breaths beside his mother, Maryamou Mbalmayo, a Cameroonian domestic worker who had come to Lebanon in search of a better life. But just minutes after his birth, a powerful explosion shook the area near the hospital. In a panic triggered by psychological trauma, Mbalmayo fled in terror, leaving behind her newborn son before even holding him for the first time.
For eight months, the hospital’s medical staff took it upon themselves to care for the child. They named him Hassan and treated him as one of their own, offering love and care without asking for anything in return. The story of this child became the talk of the hospital staff, while his mother remained lost in a state of shock and confusion.
From Bourj Hammoud to the South: A Search for a Missing Son
Six months later, Mbalmayo sought refuge at the Amel Center in Bourj Hammoud, where a friend of hers shared her story with the center’s team. The team immediately reached out to her and discovered she was suffering from a severe psychological disorder that had rendered her unable to comprehend what had happened or even speak—an outcome of the explosion and the trauma of losing her son. The medical and psychological team at Amel Association initiated a series of support and treatment sessions that gradually helped her regain her emotional balance. Then, the association received a call from another Cameroonian worker who reported that the child was at Jabal Amel Hospital. DNA testing confirmed the identity. When the long-awaited reunion finally came, the hospital was filled with tears and joy as Mbalmayo held her child for the first time after months of separation.
Gratitude to those who made the miracle possible
At Amel Association, we extend our deepest gratitude to the hospital—especially to Mr. Walid Mrouh and the entire medical team—who welcomed baby Hassan and provided him with medical care, love, and attention for eight months, free of charge. We also sincerely thank Dr. Mustafa Rizk, Head of the Clinics Department; Dr. Nasser Al-Masri, Head of the Maternity Department; and all doctors, nurses, and administrative staff for their valuable efforts and humane support during this period. We thank Caritas for providing temporary shelter until travel arrangements were finalized, and we give special thanks to Mr. Hadi Makna for his tireless support and follow-up.
As for us at Amel Association, we did what we could, from our shared humanity, to reunite this family and provide them with the medical and psychological care they needed, including covering their return tickets to Cameroon. This humanitarian collaboration is a model of solidarity and generosity, proving that compassion always transcends borders and nationalities.
From a Humanitarian Case to a Human Rights Issue
Today, Mbalmayo and her two children are safe in Cameroon, having restored a family once torn apart by trauma and reunited by compassion. Their story is a reminder that humanitarian work is not a coincidence, but a daily choice to defend dignity and justice for all people, wherever they may be, and regardless of their nationality.
The work did not stop there. Amel Association continued to provide intensive psychological support sessions at its center in Baajour, under the supervision of specialists who helped her overcome her trauma and regain her ability to speak and communicate after suffering from severe gum inflammation and a prolonged silence caused by deep internal pain. Gradually, she regained her balance and began to speak about her experience, confirming that she had never intended to abandon her child but fled in fear and confusion.
With the legal and social support of Amel Association’s center, the necessary procedures were completed with the General Security to facilitate her return to Cameroon with her children.
From an Individual Case to a National Issue
Mbalmayo’s story is not just a personal tragedy; it reflects a structural reality imposed by the Kafala system in Lebanon, which leaves migrant workers at the mercy of their employers in the absence of fair and comprehensive legal protection. For this reason, Amel Association has, for years, launched ongoing advocacy campaigns demanding the abolition of this unjust system and its replacement with a modern legal framework aligned with Lebanon’s international obligations—one that guarantees human rights for all workers, regardless of nationality or legal status.
The story of Mbalmayo and Hassan is not just about a mother and her child—it is a mirror reflecting the humanitarian aspect of Amel Association’s struggle to abolish the Kafala system, which perpetuates forms of modern slavery. Through its specialized programs for migrant workers, Amel continues its efforts to implement a new unified labor contract and push for laws that protect the dignity of all workers and shield them from exploitation and human trafficking, to help build a more just and humane society.
Towards a Unified Labor Contract and the End of Modern Slavery
Amel Association considers the adoption of the new unified labor contract a first step on the path of reform, but not sufficient unless accompanied by modern legislation that puts an end to the forms of exploitation and trafficking perpetuated by the Kafala system. Therefore, the association continues to work with its local and international partners to advocate for migrant workers’ rights through training, awareness-raising, and the provision of legal, psychological, and social protection, as well as policies that respect human dignity.
Today, Mbalmayo has returned to Cameroon holding her child in her arms, after a long journey of pain and hope. Her story reminds us that the struggle for justice does not end with saving an individual—it begins there, by restoring one human being to their rightful place in the world: among those who love and deserve them.
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