Lebanese Social Affairs Minister Haneen El Sayed said Saturday that around 400,000 displaced people have returned to their areas in southern Lebanon, while many others remain unable to go back because of widespread destruction or lack of access to their homes, Anadolu reports.
El Sayed made the remarks during a visit to the southern city of Tyre, where she met officials from the Union of Municipalities of Tyre district and the region’s disaster management unit, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency.
She said the ceasefire remains fragile, but noted that southern Lebanon has begun witnessing the return of displaced residents.
El Sayed said the purpose of her visit was to assess the situation on the ground and hear about the challenges facing local communities as part of preparations for a broader return, recovery and reconstruction plan.
She noted that the Lebanese state’s financial capacity remains limited, adding that Beirut would appeal to the international community for funding to launch reconstruction projects and provide urgent assistance to affected families.
