In a bid to pressure the government into helping their loved ones, relatives of people held captive by the Islamic State militants and the al-Nusra Front live in a small encampment in the heart of Beirut’s downtown district.
Families Press Lebanon's Government to Secure Release of Hostages
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Layali Ahmad Dirany’s brother Suleiman Dirany is among 25 servicemen currently being held hostage by Jihadists. (John Owens/VOA)
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Hussein Youssef with his grandson. The boy’s father, Mohammad Youssef, is among those taken captive by the Islamic State militants and the al-Nusra Front. (John Owens/VOA)
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13 families have lived in the camp for six months, leaving only once for a short time when their tents were destroyed by a storm. (John Owens/VOA)
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Images of the servicemen being held captive are spread throughout the encampment. (John Owens/VOA)