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J durhamregion.com Durham residents i dentures stuck in Lebanon *249S£h Country is 'totally' paralyzed by air strikes, family members say BY DAVID BLUMENFELD Staff Writer DURHAM -- The Elawar fam- 1 ily is terrified over the fate of loved ones stranded in Lebanon. They are anxious, nervous, and above all else, feel a sense of hopelessness. "I don't wish this feeling on anybody," said Joanne Elawar, whose 49-year-old brother, Saady, is among some 40,000 Canadians believed to be in Lebanon who now find themselves themselves stuck in the middle of a conflict between Israel and the Lebanese-based militant group Hezbollah. "I've been on the phone trying to get a hold of whoever I can just to see how we can help. It's like your hands are tied," said Ms. Elawar, who is in Ajax with her mother hoping for the safe return of her brother, sister-in- law, Mayada, and aunt. Ms. Elawar said her brother left for Lebanon in May, before the missile strikes began, but with the airport and local roads now destroyed, it's difficult to know when or how he can return. On Sunday, seven Canadians from a Montreal family visiting the country were killed in an air strike in Lebanon. "They hear the bombings," is what her brother relayed over the phone, Ms. Elawar said. "They haven't gotten as close to them, but he says they can hear them. It's very nerve-wracking. It's (too) late for the people in Mon- . treal, but I'm hoping that my brother can come through safe - him and his wife." Walid Elawar,. Ms. Elawar's other brother, said he is also doing all he can to bring-home his wife and four-year-old son who are stranded in the city of Sharoon. ' . , "The country is totally, absolutely, absolutely, systematically hit and paralyzed right now," said Mr. Elawar, who lives in Whitby. He sounded weary and exhausted recounting conditions on the ground in Lebanon. "The situation is extremely bad," he said. "There is no hydro, there is no water. They're running running out of food. Food is getting scarce and it's only been a few. days. My four-year-old tells me: 'Dad, they've bombed the airport and bombed everywhere.'" Mr. Elawar is now using his connections as president of the Canadian Druze Society, a religious religious charity based in Ontario, to network with Canadian MPs and MPPs to sec what it can. do to influence the situation. While the United States government government is planning to evacuate some 25,000 American citizens in Lebanon, Mr. Elawar said he feels "disgusted" and "betrayed" by what he believes has been a delayed response by the Canadian Canadian government. " I feel that we've been, as Lebanese Lebanese people, slabbed in the back by our government. There has been absolutely no sign of compassion, compassion, no sign of sorrow, no sign of humanity, from our government government toward the Lebanese people and Canada is known for it's tolerance and compassion compassion and acceptance," said Mr. Elawar, who has lived in Whitby for 17 years and owns Wally's World Restaurant in Oshawa. "We are Canadians and proud Canadians. At least we should hear (some apology) from our prime minister or foreign affairs minister. We love this country ... and to see this kind of behaviour... behaviour... it's insane. Foreign Affairs Minister Peter McKay said Monday that Canada, Canada, in collaboration with Britain and France, was securing commercial commercial ships and positioning them off the coast of Lebanon to 1(905) | Offer exi 434-4603 expires July 30% 2006 THE CANADIAN STATESMAN ♦ July 19,2006 ♦ Page A5 newsdurhamregion.com Just one more way to get your news thanks to your friends at ®be Catiabtan Statesman 3 DAYS ONLY! THURS. JULY 20 • SAT. 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