Thousands of displaced Lebanese are returning to their homes in southern Lebanon following a ceasefire agreement with Israel. The returnees are confronting extensive destruction in their villages and towns, which were heavily bombarded during the conflict. Roads in the south, the Bekaa Valley, and the southern suburbs of Beirut are filled with families making their way back to assess the damage and begin the process of rebuilding their lives.
The destruction is staggering, with buildings reduced to ruins, infrastructure devastated, and streets littered with rubble. A World Bank report estimates that the damage to housing in Lebanon amounts to approximately $2.8 billion, with over 99,000 housing units either partially or completely destroyed. The American University of Beirut's Urban Lab reported that Israeli airstrikes obliterated at least 262 buildings in the southern suburbs, which are known as a Hezbollah stronghold.
The agricultural sector has also suffered significantly, with estimated losses reaching $124 million due to the destruction of crops and livestock. The overall impact on farmers, who have been displaced and unable to harvest their crops, exceeds $1.1 billion, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region.
