Mohammad Abbas

My name is Mohammad. I was 34 years old when I went missing on August 21st 1978. I left behind a loving family, a wife, and four daughters, Ibtisam, Amal, Sana, and Salam, who was only 10 years old.

I was living in Saudi Arabia, working as a tiler. Like many men my age, I decided to live and work there to be able to offer my family a better life. My dream was to move back with enough money to buy a house and live with them. I would return back to Lebanon regularly to visit them. I would eagerly anticipate every moment I could spend with them. My favorite memories were having long talks with my father and going on picnics on beautiful sunny days before the summer heat came.

As the war raged on in Lebanon, I became more worried about my loved ones. In 1978, as the situation worsened, I decided to drive back to Lebanon to visit my family during the holy month of Ramadan and to bring them back with me to Saudi Arabia where they would be safe.

My family waited for my arrival, but I never made it. After days of wait and worry, my brother-in-law travelled to Saudi Arabia and Jordan hoping to find me. The only information he was able to get, was that my journey had stopped shortly after I crossed the border into Lebanon.

My wife and daughters suffered greatly from my disappearance, and I missed so much of their lives. They spent most of their time trying to find out what happened to me and to make up for the fact that I am no longer there to provide for them.

My name is Mohammad Abbas. Do not let my story end here.