United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Spokesperson Babar Baloch made evaluations at the weekly press conference of the UN Geneva Office.
Baloch said that while most of the people displaced by months of air strikes and insecurity in Lebanon returned to their own regions, the vast majority encountered damaged houses, widespread destruction and lack of basic services, and warned that the displacement and humanitarian crisis is not over yet.
Baloch stated the following:
"Despite the announced ceasefire regulations, Israel's new air strikes on southern Lebanon at the weekend triggered a new wave of displacement, with hundreds of families fleeing towards the north in search of safety. These movements further deepen the already long displacement crisis and increase uncertainty for communities trying to return to their homes. While approximately 860 thousand people are reported to have returned to their home areas, approximately 360 thousand people have been displaced, including at least 22 thousand people living in mass shelters."
Noting that the security situation in Lebanon remains fragile, Baloch emphasized that the humanitarian needs of hundreds of thousands of people are still at very high levels.
"While the intensity of the conflict has decreased, (Israeli's) air strikes continue to put many lives at risk. Risks related to movement restrictions, military activities and explosive remnants of war continue to affect southern Lebanon and much of the Bekaa, posing threats to security and hindering sustainable solutions for conflict-affected communities," Baloch said. he said.
Reminding that more than 1 million people were displaced in Lebanon at the peak of the conflict, Baloch underlined that many families could not return to their homes due to insecurity and lack of infrastructure.
Lebanon continues to face a complex displacement situation and ongoing protection risks, Baloch said.
Reminding that only 24 percent of the total need of UNHCR's Lebanon operation for 2026, amounting to 472.3 million dollars, is financed, Baloch pointed out the importance of continuous support for Lebanese families.
Israeli attacks in Lebanon
The Israeli army launched intense air strikes on Lebanon on March 2, targeting and occupying many towns in the south of the country.
According to the data of the Lebanese Ministry of Health, the number of people killed in the attacks carried out by Israel since March 2 reached 4 thousand 346 and the number of injured reached 12 thousand 301.
The Lebanese government announced that the number of people displaced in the country due to the attacks exceeded 1 million.
The ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, which came into force on April 17, was later extended several times.
However, despite the ceasefire, the Israeli army continues its attacks against the south of Lebanon for various reasons.
