UN: Tens of thousands return to their homes in southern Lebanon

Istanbul (ANTARA) - The United Nations reported that nearly 50,000 people have returned to their homes in southern Lebanon, although more than 100,000 remain in collective shelters across the country. UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Thursday, citing data from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), that almost 50,000 people have now returned to their homes in Nabatieh Governorate and South Lebanon. “However, more than 106,000 people remain in collective shelters across the country, while many others seek refuge elsewhere,” Dujarric told reporters. He explained that humanitarian partners warn that unstable security conditions, widespread damage, and limited access to basic services remain major obstacles for many residents attempting to return home. The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) recorded 143 projectile crossings on Thursday, Dujarric said, with 19 attributed to Israeli forces and the remainder originating from Hezbollah. The previous day, UNIFIL recorded 364 projectile crossings, 330 of which were attributed to Israeli forces and 34 to Hezbollah. UNIFIL also reported 38 violations of Lebanese airspace on Wednesday, though none were recorded on Thursday in the peacekeeping force’s area of operations. He referred to an incident on Wednesday when a UNIFIL convoy was obstructed by two Israeli tanks north of the city of Tyre. “During the incident, one of the tanks pointed its weapon at a UNIFIL vehicle,” he said. Dujarric added that Israeli personnel signalled the convoy to stop, forcing the patrol to halt and turn around before eventually being allowed to use an alternative route. “We reiterate that UNIFIL peacekeepers must have unimpeded freedom of movement throughout their area of operations in carrying out their mandate from the UN Security Council,” he said. The statement followed the electronic signing by the United States and Iran of the ‘Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding’, which halts military operations on all fronts of the conflict triggered by the Israeli and US war against Iran since 28 February, including in Lebanon.