In light of the tense security conditions taking place in the southern border areas, residents of the fifteen border villages sent a letter to Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, in which they expressed their attachment to their lands, and demanded that the state assume its full responsibilities in providing protection for civilians and ensuring their steadfastness.
The people opened their message by saying: “On the side of the honorable Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, we, the people of the 15 border villages, have come to you with our great faith in the state and its role on all Lebanese lands.”
They added: “We have concerns and fears of not returning or going back to the 1975 experience, so we are clinging to our land,” pointing out that the steadfast southern villages in the current conflict zone “have become isolated from the world and afflicted.”
They added that this situation “applies to the provisions of the Geneva Conventions, which stipulate the protection of civilians and ensuring unhindered access to humanitarian aid.”
The residents affirmed: “We chose the option of remaining in our towns, and this is our firm and irreversible decision.”
In the context of their demands, they stressed the importance of “providing protection for the steadfast people in their towns and protecting property, which gives hope to the displaced people of the villages of Alma al-Shaab and al-Qawzah to return and protect their property.”
They also called for “securing humanitarian corridors to deliver food, medicine, baby formula, fuel, and other materials necessary for daily life, to support the steadfastness and continuity of the people.”
In addition, they demanded “the installation of military personnel from the Internal Security Forces and the army from the townspeople who are currently in their towns and not to consider them as fugitives.”
The people concluded their message with the following phrase: “We hold those who took the country hostage responsible for our fate, especially since the possibilities for resilience are limited.”
