After months of hostilities, many families across Lebanon are returning to find their homes damaged and their access to healthcare and other essential services disrupted. Many have also lost their sources of income. For others, continued insecurity and limited access to basic services make returning impossible. Meanwhile, Israeli attacks continue to cause destruction and damage civilian infrastructure in the south.
Aid agencies are scaling up and adapting their response to the evolving situation. They are continuing to address the immediate needs of affected populations while supporting the restoration of services, early recovery, and livelihoods.
At the same time, Lebanon continues to grapple with the aftermath of widespread displacement. At the height of the escalation, over 1.9 million people—more than a third of Lebanon's population—were displaced from their homes. This included over 1.2 million internally displaced persons (IDPs), nearly 600,000 Syrian refugees, and around 164,000 Lebanese nationals who crossed into Syria after March 2.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), as of Wednesday, around 333,000 IDPs remained displaced across Lebanon. This includes people who are unable to return home due to security concerns and limited access to essential services. Entire towns and villages in Lebanon have suffered widespread destruction and remain largely inaccessible following the intense hostilities that began on March 2.
Access to healthcare, essential services, and livelihoods remains limited
Recent data shows that medical facilities continue to experience critical shortages of essential supplies and infrastructure damage. Access to healthcare remains limited, particularly in areas of return where services have been disrupted.
A survey by the World Health Organization (WHO) found that only four percent of households in southern Lebanon and the southern suburbs of Beirut reported having full access to health care following the closure of numerous primary healthcare centers and hospitals during the height of the conflict.
The economic impact of the conflict has also been profound. Many families have lost businesses, agricultural equipment, livestock, and other sources of income. The Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture reports that an estimated 72 percent of farmers have experienced significant income losses alongside a drastic decline in agricultural production.
For many families, continued insecurity and the loss of essential services and livelihoods are making recovery increasingly difficult. Attacks on healthcare facilities and personnel pose a significant protection concern and directly restrict civilians' access to life-saving services.
On Friday, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned that functioning water networks, healthcare facilities, and other essential services are fundamental to making returns sustainable.
“For tens of thousands of people across Lebanon, recovery has only just begun. For many others, the path to recovery remains challenging, as conditions continue to affect their return home and their ability to rebuild their lives,” the ICRC said.
Regional escalation causes devastating consequences for the Lebanese civilian population
The latest crisis in Lebanon, which emerged in March, was triggered by a broader regional escalation that began when the United States and Israel initiated a war against Iran. The non-state armed group Hezbollah subsequently launched rockets and drones into Israeli territory, reigniting the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, which has had devastating consequences for the Lebanese civilian population.
According to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, more than 4,380 people have been killed and more than 12,400 injured in Israeli attacks since March 2. Among the casualties are at least 256 children who were killed and more than 1,000 who were injured.
Israeli attacks have also affected healthcare facilities and personnel. Since March 2, at least 135 healthcare workers have been killed on duty, and 416 have been injured.
The United Nations Human Rights Office (OHCHR) has documented widespread violations of international humanitarian law, some of which may constitute war crimes or other serious crimes under international law.
Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon continue to harm civilians
On Friday, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that ongoing hostilities are causing destruction and damage to civilian infrastructure in southern Lebanon.
According to local authorities, a public school in the municipality of Mansouri in the South Governorate was largely destroyed overnight following several days of intense demolition activity in the area.
On Wednesday night, large explosions were reported south of Nabatieh following the destruction of underground tunnels. The blasts were felt across parts of southern Lebanon, causing concern and reported harm among local communities.
Peacekeepers with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) continue to monitor extensive Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) activity across southern Lebanon, including in the air, on land, and at sea. On Wednesday alone, UNIFIL recorded 84 violations of Lebanese airspace by the IDF—the highest daily number since June 10—as well as 56 Israeli airstrikes, the highest daily total since June.
UNIFIL peacekeepers also continue to detect dozens of IDF projectiles impacting targets across southern Lebanon daily.
Renewed hostilities are affecting people attempting to return home. In the El Nabatiyeh district, aid agencies have recorded a decline in the number of returnees. This decline may indicate that renewed insecurity is discouraging some families from returning and prompting others who had already returned to flee again.
OCHA emphasized that humanitarian access remains difficult. On Thursday, however, a humanitarian convoy received clearance through the Humanitarian Notification System for the first time since late July to reach border villages that had experienced prolonged access constraints.
The UN humanitarian office reiterated the need to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, warning that continued hostilities prevent people from returning home safely and permanently.