Almost a month after the onset of the conditional ceasefire agreement, the International Organization for Migration has noted that 165,428 individuals remain displaced across 438 cadasters in Lebanon.
According to the IOM’s displacement tracker, 26 percent of the 165,428 displaced stay in the Aley district, 19 percent in Saida, 14 percent in Beirut, eight percent in the Chouf district and eight percent in the Sour district, with the remaining quarter in other areas across the country.
The rate of displacement as a result of the Israeli war on Lebanon skyrocketed during the escalation of attacks across the country, with the government estimating that 1.5 million people were displaced.
Monitoring the current rate of displacement remains extremely difficult due to the volatility of the situation. The IOM’s numbers are likely vast underestimates, as many people had lost their houses and properties and many remain unable to return to areas near Lebanon’s Southern borders due to the continued presence of Israeli forces and incessant attacks on Lebanese territories.
As such, people have chosen to stay at houses of relatives or people they know in their local communities. Others have taken up temporary rental agreements across Lebanon by the time they figure out a more stable residence.
Israeli Attacks Continue
In the South and in a few other areas across the country, Israeli violations of the ceasefire have continued throughout the last few weeks. According to a L’Orient Le Jour tally, 23 individuals have been killed as a result.
Hundreds of violations of the conditional ceasefire agreement by the Israeli army have been recorded. In addition, Israeli settlers were seen entering southern Lebanese areas, and more recently, the Israeli army raised Israel’s flag at the entrance of the Southern Lebanese town of Naqoura.
According to the agreement, Israeli forces are to withdraw from Lebanese areas they have invaded, Hezbollah is to withdraw north of the Litani river, and the Lebanese Army is to take control of the area in coordination with United Nations peacekeeping forces (UNIFIL), all under the supervision of the ceasefire agreement’s monitoring committee.
However, implementation remains slow, particularly on the side of the Israeli army, who is yet to stop its violations and continued attacks over Lebanese territory.
Humanitarian Needs Remain High
Humanitarian needs across Lebanon remain critically high. The conflict came at the background of an unprecedented socioeconomic crisis, which saw poverty levels in Lebanon triple during the last decade, according to a World Bank study.
The Lebanese government has launched an appeal for reconstruction, with Prime Minister Najib Mikati requesting five billion USD for such an endeavor. The Lebanon Humanitarian Fund (LHF), composed of a range of actors in the humanitarian sector, has urgently requested 30.7 million dollars to address needs of the conflict-affected population, largely women and children who face increased protection risks.
In the long term, several of Lebanon’s key facilities for basic services have been damaged by Israeli attacks. Nineteen primary health centers and dispensaries and three hospitals remain closed, whereas 44 water facilities have been damaged, impacting nearly 485,000 residents.
In addition to up to 6,000 hectares of land burned and 65,000 olive trees destroyed, Lebanon faces a long road ahead for reconstruction, especially for the poorest groups who have lost their livelihood opportunities, who will struggle for at least the medium term to secure basic needs.