UN says 40% of over 1M displaced in Lebanon have returned home

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said Wednesday that approximately 40 percent of the more than 1 million people displaced by Israeli attacks in Lebanon have returned to their home areas, citing figures from the International Organization for Migration. The announcement marks a significant development in the humanitarian crisis that has gripped the country since hostilities intensified earlier this year.

Conditions for safe return

Citing IOM officials, Dujarric stated: "this marks an important step towards recovery, [but] thousands of people remain displaced and continue to rely on humanitarian assistance," adding that returns must meet strict humanitarian criteria. "We reiterate that returns must be safe, they must be voluntary, they must be dignified, and people who return must have the access they need to humanitarian goods," he said.

Aid delivery to southern Lebanon

The World Food Program and its partners on Tuesday delivered assistance to hard-to-reach areas across southern Lebanon, Dujarric noted. "We continue to stress that humanitarian access must be granted to all those who need it," he said, underscoring the urgency of maintaining supply lines to affected communities.

Israeli offensive continues

Israel began its latest offensive in Lebanon in early March and has refused to withdraw from the territory despite a ceasefire and a framework deal mediated by the US. The ongoing military presence complicates return efforts for hundreds of thousands still displaced from border regions.