After four months of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, hundreds of thousands of Lebanese are beginning to return to their homes as the fighting subsides. According to Lebanese Social Affairs Minister Hanine El Sayed, approximately 400,000 people have already returned to the south of the country, and more returns are expected in the coming days.
Since the fighting began in March, nearly one million people have been forced to flee their homes. To date, approximately 40% of the displaced have been able to return to their towns and villages. However, a large portion of the population remains in shelters or temporary housing, as their homes have been destroyed or rendered uninhabitable by the fighting.
Authorities emphasize that the situation is gradually improving. The number of people housed in collective centers has decreased from approximately 37,000 to 13,000, while the number of accommodation centers has fallen from 692 at the height of the crisis to 479. New centers have nevertheless been opened in the Nabatieh region to accommodate families who wish to remain close to their home communities.
Hanine El Sayed cautioned, however, that these figures do not fully reflect reality. According to her, families who have been able to return still have housing, even if partially damaged, allowing them to resume a semblance of normal life. On the other hand, those who remain displaced find themselves in a much more difficult situation, lacking a home to return to.
The government plans to maintain aid programs, including emergency financial assistance, to support the most vulnerable. However, Lebanon's reconstruction is expected to be extensive and will require several billion dollars to repair the destruction caused by months of war.
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