Middle East Times editor Camil Shalala played a heroic role in Lebanon’s civil war in the mid-1970s. With the mortar shelling by the joint forces on the area of Chouf Coast in late 1976 he went to the yacht club in Kaslik, north of Beirut, and then drove a tourist boat towards the Saadiyat beach near the Palace of the late President Chamoun. There he participated in the process of rescuing about 100 civilians who were displaced from Jieh and Damour and other villages. They were taken to the naval base in Jounieh.

The 35th anniversary of the displacement of the Chouf Coast

A second attack took place in Jieh village on April 28, 1985, with the loss of innocent lives and destruction of homes. Due to the proximity of the history of the incident to Anzac Day on April 25, Mr Shalala out of respect placed a floral wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Sydney’s Martin Place. His action gained the support of Australian media for the Rescue Mission Campaign which Mr Shalala organised in 1988 to help the displaced people in Lebanon and facilitate their migration to Australia.