Lebanon – The humanitarian crisis is not over yet despite the ceasefire and international warnings of its worsening

Speaking via video from Lebanon to reporters in Geneva on Tuesday, Carolina Lindholm Billing, representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, confirmed that these developments lead to repeated waves of displacement and a rapid deterioration in humanitarian needs.

Although the capital Beirut has not been bombed in recent weeks, and media coverage of the situation in Lebanon has declined, the remaining civilians in southern Lebanon and parts of the Bekaa are living in fear for their lives as was the case before the ceasefire, while the number of people forced to flee is increasing, according to the UNHCR.

380 people killed

The Commission reported that at least 380 people were killed despite a ceasefire declaration on April 17, noting that widespread destruction continues in large parts of the country, affecting the homes of hundreds of thousands of people, as well as basic infrastructure.

According to the National Council for Scientific Research in Lebanon, 428 housing units were destroyed and 50 others were damaged in just the first three days of the ceasefire. Civilians continue to be directly affected, and insecurity continues to influence residents’ decisions whether to return to their towns and villages or remain where they are, in a relatively safe situation, for the time being. Many displaced people are not allowed to return to their homes by the Israeli army in the areas it controls in the south.

Although all displaced people are eager to return to their homes, as thousands of families have tried to do so since the ceasefire, these movements are hesitant, partial, and often retracted. Many tend to see how safe it is if they decide to return, only to find their homes destroyed, their neighborhoods unsafe, and basic services unavailable. Families are forced to flee, then return briefly, then leave again, finding themselves caught in repeated and exhausting cycles of uncertainty, according to the UNHCR.

Grim reality

The UNHCR stated that returnees face a grim reality of widespread destruction of homes and infrastructure, power and water outages, damaged or disrupted health facilities and schools, and continuing risks from unexploded ordnance.

Carolina Lindholm-Belling said that last week, she met families who tried to return to their homes in Nabatieh and Tyre, only to find themselves again in collective shelters, and their suffering increased after they saw their homes completely destroyed. She explained that one of the men showed her a picture of his destroyed house on his phone, and that he is now in Sidon, sleeping on the floor in a school shelter, where he has no place to return to.

Crossing traffic continues at the border

The UNHCR reported that crossings at the border continued. After the intensity of the conflict escalated again on March 2, more than 310,000 Syrians crossed into Syria from Lebanon, indicating that they had no practical alternative but to leave.

At the same time, UNHCR said the Lebanon Flash Appeal remains severely underfunded, with only 38% of requested funds received so far, severely limiting the scope and sustainability of life-saving assistance.

Despite these challenges, UNHCR confirmed that it continues to support government-led response efforts, and is working closely with national authorities and partners to provide protection services, emergency shelter, cash assistance, and essential relief items.

UNHCR stressed the need to maintain this fragile truce in order to enable the safe return of displaced families, and this must be matched by sustainable international support.