Ceasefire fails to end hardship for thousands of displaced Lebanese families

Although a ceasefire has brought an end to weeks of heavy fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, thousands of displaced families across Lebanon remain unable to return to their homes.

Although a ceasefire has brought an end to weeks of heavy fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, thousands of displaced families across Lebanon remain unable to return to their homes. For many, the silence of the guns has not changed the harsh reality that their villages have been destroyed or remain under Israeli military control, leaving them with no clear path back to normal life.

Among them is Hussein Merhi, a farmer from the border town of Kfar Kila in southern Lebanon. He has been living in a university building in the coastal city of Sidon after being forced to flee his home during the conflict. His village was heavily damaged by Israeli attacks and is now located inside an area still occupied by Israeli forces. With his house destroyed and his farmland inaccessible, Merhi says the ceasefire has brought little comfort to his family. He believes they remain displaced despite the fighting coming to an end because they have nothing left to return to.

The conflict began in early March after Israel launched military operations in response to attacks by Hezbollah. As the fighting spread, residents from large parts of southern Lebanon, eastern regions and areas near Beirut were ordered to leave their homes. More than 1.2 million people were displaced during the war, making it one of the largest humanitarian crises in Lebanon in recent years. While many families found temporary shelter with relatives, tens of thousands moved into schools, universities and other public buildings converted into emergency accommodation.

Since the ceasefire took effect on June 20, some families have started returning to their hometowns. Official figures show that thousands have already left displacement shelters. However, many have discovered that their homes have been reduced to rubble, making it impossible to settle back. Lebanon’s National Council for Scientific Research estimates that more than 90,000 housing units were damaged or destroyed between March and mid June, highlighting the enormous scale of destruction caused by the conflict.

Merhi’s mother, Zahra Chehadeh, says her family now faces an uncertain future. Without access to their farm, they have lost their main source of income and cannot afford to rent a house elsewhere. She hopes the Lebanese government will provide housing assistance because rebuilding their lives on their own is beyond their financial means. Like many displaced people, she says returning home is no longer possible because the village they once knew has almost completely disappeared.

Israeli troops continue to control parts of southern Lebanon, including villages located several kilometres inside Lebanese territory. Israeli officials insist that the military presence is necessary to protect communities near the border, while human rights organisations have criticised restrictions preventing residents from returning to their homes. Amnesty International has argued that large scale displacement and continued no return orders violate international humanitarian law, although Israel says the measures are intended to protect civilians.

As negotiations continue over a possible Israeli withdrawal from parts of southern Lebanon, the Lebanese government is preparing for the possibility that displacement could continue for many months. Officials are considering temporary housing projects and rental support programmes, but limited financial resources remain a major obstacle. For thousands of families still living in shelters or makeshift camps, the ceasefire has ended the fighting but not the struggle to rebuild their lives. Many now face an uncertain future without homes, stable incomes or any clear indication of when they will finally be able to return.