Lebanon’s displaced begin to return home, but some have nowhere to go

Beirut, Lebanon – There are only a few dozen blue tents remaining near Beirut’s waterfront, a far cry from the hundreds that have sheltered Lebanon’s displaced in recent months. The agreement to end the war between the United States and Iran – which ostensibly includes an end to Israel’s strikes on Lebanon – has encouraged thousands of Lebanese to start returning to their homes in areas, primarily in the south of the country, that bore the brunt of the attacks. Recommended Stories list of 3 items end of list As the midday sun beat down on a car park where a few tents still stood, a mother from Nabi Chit, a village in eastern Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, walked towards a neighbour’s tent so she could fill up a bottle of water. A battle in March between Israeli troops and local residents killed more than 40 people in Nabi Chit. The woman, who asked that her name be withheld, and her daughter first fled their home for Beirut’s southern suburbs, known as Dahiyeh. Then they moved to Beirut’s waterfront, directly facing a luxury shopping area, about a month ago. She said that a lot of people had left the camp in recent days. Those who stayed – like her – mostly have nowhere to go. Her home was destroyed and she didn’t want to be a burden to others by staying in their houses. Left behind Israel’s second military intensification in Lebanon in under two years began on March 2, just hours after Hezbollah fired six rockets at Israel. …