Published on: 2026-08-18
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
August 18, 2026 Refugees and Migrants
About 860,000 residents of Lebanon, who were previously forced to leave their homes due to hostilities, have returned to their native areas. However, due to massive destruction, unstable conditions, and lack of basic services, their return does not at all mean the end of the crisis.
Despite the declared ceasefire agreements, new Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon over the past weekend caused another wave of displacement. Hundreds of families were forced to head north in search of refuge.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), about 360,000 people are still unable to return home, with at least 22,000 of them living in collective accommodation centers, and others staying with relatives or in overcrowded rented apartments.
The situation remains unstable
At the peak of the conflict, the number of internally displaced persons in Lebanon exceeded one million. Although the intensity of hostilities has decreased, ongoing airstrikes, movement restrictions, and unexploded ordnance still threaten the population, especially in the south of the country and the Bekaa Valley.
Many families cannot return due to destruction, debris, lack of safe access to their settlements, and serious damage to infrastructure. For example, in several areas, healthcare, electricity, and water supply systems are operating intermittently or have completely failed.
The approach of the new academic year also creates additional challenges: many collective accommodation centers are located in public schools that need to be vacated for the resumption of classes. Municipalities in affected areas are calling for temporary housing to be provided to families in order to avoid new displacements and allow people to stay close to their communities.
At the same time, the boundary between those who have returned and those still considered displaced is becoming increasingly blurred: some families make short trips to their settlements to assess the situation before deciding on returning. Others continue to move back and forth between their temporary place of residence and their home area.
The path to recovery
The Lebanese government has developed a national return and early recovery program that includes the disposal of unexploded ordnance, debris clearance, infrastructure repair, and housing restoration.
The authorities also provide the affected with temporary housing, financial and psychological assistance with the support of UNHCR and other humanitarian organizations.
“Lebanon has not yet entered the post-crisis phase. The country continues to face a complex situation in terms of population movement and ongoing protection risks,” said UNHCR representative Babar Baloch.
Lack of funding
Humanitarian organizations are experiencing an acute shortage of resources, which limits their ability to assist both displaced persons and families trying to return home.
Operations to assist Lebanon are funded at only 48 percent. At the same time, UNHCR’s activities in the country in 2026 have received only 24 percent of the necessary funding.
The agency warned that without stable international support, displaced and returning families will continue to face serious difficulties. Long-term solutions require humanitarian aid, debris clearance, rehabilitation work, and improvements in the security situation.
Please be advised; This information is raw content obtained directly from the information source. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.