The gradual Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon has revealed devastation that many residents could not even imagine. In the Lebanese town of Naqoura, just 3 kilometers from the border with Israel, residents have been able to return for the first time this week, following the departure of Israeli troops, in the wake of the newly implemented ceasefire.
Fatima, whose name is fictitious, looks in disbelief at what remains of her home in Naqoura, as residents begin to assess the damage to their houses. After a year and four months of displacement, she acknowledges that she will have to remain homeless for some time longer. "We will look for somewhere to stay until we rebuild and return to our house," she says to EFE from the interior of her destroyed living room.
The Lebanese Army has begun to allow the entry of displaced people to liberated towns, such as Naqoura, while other villages still remain occupied by Israel, despite the expiration of the deadline for their withdrawal. This noncompliance has led to deadly altercations with citizens trapped in their inability to return home.
In Naqoura, the scene is desolate: mountains of rubble occupy the place of what was once a bustling community. "They used to say there was a lot of destruction, I knew my house was destroyed, but I didn't think it would be at this level," laments a young mother who sadly observes the remnants of her home. Many residents face total loss of their belongings and the difficulty of receiving compensation for their losses.
Some inhabitants, tired of living in a cycle of constant destruction, are considering leaving the country and seeking a better life abroad. "We don't want to live in this cycle anymore, this is not the first time our house has been destroyed," says an elderly man from Naqoura who has decided not to rebuild his home once again. Many recount how they had to flee with only what they were wearing at the start of the conflict, leaving all their belongings behind in a false sense of optimism.
Desolation and uncertainty reign in southern Lebanon, as residents face the difficult task of rebuilding their lives amidst the devastation left by years of conflict and wars.
