Beyond the Headlines: who will help the abandoned Ethiopian workers in Lebanon?

In Beirut, a white saloon car comes to a swift halt outside the Ethiopian embassy in the south-west of the city. A woman climbs out, and the car speeds off. The Ethiopian woman is one of many domestic workers being abandoned by their employers.

Lebanon is in an economic crisis. There are more than 250,000 foreign domestic workers in Lebanon with Ethiopians being by far the largest nationality. Employers say they can no longer afford to pay their domestic help, nor can they afford to buy the women a flight back to their home country. On top of that, there is now a quarantine charge for the women when they land in Ethiopia. On this week's Beyond the Headlines we look at why dozens of domestic workers being abandoned in Lebanon and who will help them?

Longreads

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While you're here

Declan McVeigh: Northern Ireland is marking its centenary, rattled and alone

Declan McVeigh: A tribute to John Hume and his lessons in peacemaking

Gavin Esler: The Good Friday Agreement teaches us some important lessons

Damien McElroy: Boris must listen to Churchill's comments on Irish divisions

Points to remember

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Build the relationship and dialogue by seeking to find common ground
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Listen actively without interrupting
Avoid assumptions, seek understanding, ask questions

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