For over six months, the aggressive Israeli attacks have progressively turned the humanitarian displacement crisis in Lebanon into a permanent fixture. According to estimates by the United Nations International Organization for Migration (IOM), the number of people displaced from Lebanon due to Israeli attacks exceeded 1.2 million in April, which was the highest figure. Although this number has now decreased to approximately 330,000, humanitarian workers have warned that this reduction should not be considered a permanent or sustainable solution.
Nadine Mazloum, an official with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), noted that the pattern of displacement remains "highly fluid and often reversible" due to fears of potential new attacks. She added that while the overall number of displaced people has significantly decreased from its peak of over 1.2 million, this should not be mistaken for a resolution to the crisis. The situation in Southern Lebanon remains extremely fragile and uncertain.
Since October 2023, fighting of varying intensity has been ongoing between Israel and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah. On March 2, 2026, Hezbollah launched its first counter-attack in over a year in response to Israel's continued assaults on Lebanon. They claimed this attack was in retaliation for over 10,000 violations of the 2024 ceasefire agreement and the assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei two days prior, on the first day of the US-Israel-Iran war.
Immediately thereafter, Israel intensified its air strikes in Lebanon and re-invaded Southern Lebanon for the second time in two years. Currently, Israel occupies more than 50 villages. These attacks have killed over 4,380 people, and hundreds of thousands have been forced to flee their homes. While most of the displaced are residents of Southern Lebanon, people have also been displaced from the eastern Beqaa Valley and the capital Beirut and its southern suburbs. Displaced people have sought refuge wherever they could; some have pitched tents along the beachfront or corniche in Beirut, while others have rented apartments in relatively safer areas. However, many displaced people have also fallen victim to attacks, including "double-tap strikes."
Despite direct, US-sponsored talks between Israel and Lebanon, the declared ceasefire and the June framework agreement have failed to halt Israeli attacks in Southern Lebanon. Although bombings have somewhat decreased in other parts of the country, and over 810,000 people have either returned home or sought refuge nearby, most of them have returned to homes with damaged or destroyed infrastructure. This situation proves that the agreements have failed to yield effective results on the ground.
Sujud Ramzan, a resident of the town of Faraoun, is among those who have returned to her village. Faraoun is a town located in a "Yellow Line" area, which Israel claims as a military zone extending approximately 10 kilometers (6 miles) north of the Israel-Lebanon border. Faraoun was included as a "pilot zone" in the June framework agreement, where Israeli forces were supposed to withdraw and the Lebanese army was to enter to disarm Hezbollah.
Although most of Faraoun has been reduced to rubble by Israeli air strikes, the Israeli military has not set foot in the town since 2014. Despite Ramzan's return to her village, her home was completely destroyed, so she is currently residing elsewhere. Faced with lost livelihoods, destroyed homes, and a lack of permanent security, many displaced Lebanese people are confronting a profound reality where their future is becoming increasingly uncertain. This situation highlights the need for long-term rehabilitation and a permanent resolution to the conflict, extending beyond mere temporary shelter or aid.
