Beirut, May 6 (SANA) The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) warned that Lebanon’s humanitarian crisis remains “highly fragile” despite the ceasefire announced on April 17, citing continued Israeli strikes, demolitions, displacement, and restrictions on civilian movement.
In a statement carried by UN News, the agency said civilians in southern Lebanon and parts of the Bekaa Valley continue to face insecurity amid ongoing airstrikes, shelling, evacuation orders, and limits on access to several areas.
Although Beirut has not witnessed major bombardment in recent weeks and international media attention has declined, the agency said many civilians in the south still live under conditions similar to those before the ceasefire, while displacement continues to rise.
UNHCR said at least 380 people have been killed since the ceasefire took effect, adding that large-scale destruction continues to affect homes and critical infrastructure across several parts of Lebanon.
According to Lebanon’s National Council for Scientific Research, 428 housing units were destroyed and 50 others damaged during the first three days of the truce alone.
The agency said insecurity continues to shape decisions by displaced residents on whether to return to their towns or remain in relatively safer areas, while many people are still unable to return to homes located in areas under Israeli military control in southern Lebanon.
UNHCR added that many families attempting to return to areas including Nabatieh and Tyre found their homes destroyed, neighborhoods unsafe, and essential services unavailable, forcing some to leave again after briefly returning.
The agency said returnees face widespread destruction of homes and infrastructure, power and water outages, damaged schools and health facilities, and continued risks from unexploded ordnance.
Carolina Lindholm Billing, UNHCR representative in Lebanon, said the continued insecurity is driving repeated waves of displacement and rapidly worsening humanitarian needs.
“Families who tried to return home found themselves back in collective shelters after discovering their homes completely destroyed,” Billing said.
Israeli attacks on Lebanon have continued despite the ceasefire, with near-daily air and ground strikes reported in several areas, according to Lebanese authorities.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry said the death toll from the attacks has risen to 2,702 since March 2
R.D/ABD
