Renewed military intensification in southern Lebanon has forced hundreds of families to flee their homes once again. According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, a representative for the UN, Baloch, stated during a weekly press conference at the UN Office in Geneva that the humanitarian situation in the country remains critical.
According to the UN representative, while many people attempted to return to their homes following months of hostilities, they have been met with destroyed housing and devastated infrastructure, creating severe challenges for returning civilians.
Despite existing ceasefire agreements, reports indicate that new Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon over the weekend have further exacerbated the situation. These attacks have triggered a new wave of forced displacement, with hundreds of families moving northward in search of safety.
Current data suggests that while approximately 860,000 people have returned to their homes, nearly 360,000 individuals remain displaced. The UN representative noted that although the intensity of clashes has decreased, ongoing airstrikes continue to pose a significant threat to the civilian population.
Military activities, movement restrictions, and unexploded ordnance from the conflict present severe risks to the safety of residents in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa region. These factors continue to hinder the population's return to normalcy and complicate efforts to establish sustainable solutions in the region.
The UN has called on the international community to increase humanitarian aid to Lebanon. Reports indicate that only 24 percent of the $472.3 million requested by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees for 2026 has been funded.
It should be noted that since the intensification of Israeli airstrikes against Lebanon on March 2, it is reported that more than 4,000 people have been killed and over 12,000 injured. According to the Lebanese government, the number of internally displaced persons exceeded 1 million during the peak of the conflict.
Although the ceasefire regime that entered into force on April 17 has been extended several times, persistent military strikes continue to prevent the full restoration of stability in Lebanon and hinder the safe return of citizens to their homes.
The ongoing crisis in Lebanon highlights the fragility of regional security and the urgent need for sustained diplomatic efforts to ensure a lasting peace, as the humanitarian toll continues to mount despite international mediation attempts.
