Minister of Interior and Municipalities, Ahmed Al-Hajjar, affirmed that Lebanon will rise stronger than ever before, stressing that the cities and villages of the south will be rebuilt with the will and determination of their people, and with the efforts made by municipalities to continue serving the population and confront the repercussions imposed by the security conditions and Israeli attacks.
While receiving delegations from a number of southern municipalities, Al-Hajjar expressed his hope that Lebanon would enjoy security and peace, stressing that the Lebanese people deserve to live in safety and stability, at a time when southern municipalities bear increasing burdens related to displacement, damage to infrastructure, and securing basic services for the people.
In this context, Al-Hajjar met with the mayor of Bint Jbeil, Muhammad Bazzi, and a delegation of members of the municipal council, where the delegation gave a detailed presentation of the challenges facing the city at the current stage, especially the management of the displacement file, and the needs associated with the people who were forced to leave their homes, in addition to the return plan prepared by the municipality to be implemented when appropriate security and field conditions are available.
The delegation handed the Minister of Interior a report documenting the extent of the destruction and Israeli attacks that targeted the city of Bint Jbeil. It also presented a series of technical and logistical demands that the municipality needs to continue its work and meet the needs of the people in light of the current circumstances.
The mayor and members of the Bint Jbeil Municipality thanked Al-Hajjar for his support of the municipality and his follow-up of its files, stressing that they will continue to perform their duties and serve the people of the city, and to adhere to steadfastness and work to create conditions that allow the restoration of normal life as soon as possible.
The issue of Bint Jbeil is gaining additional specificity at the current stage, after the files of destruction, displacement, and the restoration of services have become the focus of a series of meetings conducted by the municipality over the past weeks with a number of ministries and official institutions. On August 13, the municipality presented to the Minister of Labor, Muhammad Haider, the effects of destruction and displacement, and submitted a report documenting the damage to residential neighborhoods and commercial, educational, health, and cultural facilities, as part of a broader move to stabilize the extent of the city’s needs and prepare for the recovery, return, and reconstruction phase.
The challenge is not limited to restoring damaged buildings, as the towns of Bint Jbeil District are facing damage to basic service networks as well. Last July, a team from Doctors Without Borders, in cooperation with the Union of Bint Jbeil District Municipalities, conducted a tour in Shaqra and Baraashit to assess the damage to the water and sanitation networks and dispensaries, in preparation for determining rehabilitation needs, in an indication of the extent of the burdens awaiting local authorities in the return phase.
In the context of the municipal meetings, Al-Hajjar also received the Mayor of Rmeish Hanna Al-Amil and the Mayor of Double Akl Naddaf, and discussed with them the means available to support the two municipalities and enable them to continue to meet the needs of the people and provide basic services.
Al-Hajjar was briefed by the agent and Naddaf on the reality experienced by the residents who remained in the front villages, and the daily challenges that these towns face in light of the current circumstances, whether at the level of movement and access to services or securing basic needs and maintaining the work of municipal institutions.
The mayors of the municipalities of Rmeish and Dibal affirmed the adherence of the people of the two towns to the Lebanese state, and their keenness to remain and steadfast in their villages, considering that the continuation of official and municipal institutions in keeping pace with the people constitutes an essential element in supporting their presence and alleviating the pressures they are experiencing.
During the past months, Rmeish and Dibal, along with Ain Ebel, have faced increasing difficulties in accessing water, health care, and transportation, according to field reports by Doctors Without Borders, which indicated in June that the restrictions and military operations surrounding these villages directly affected the residents’ ability to obtain a number of basic services.
Last March, the mayor of Rmeish spoke about the security pressures that affected the town at the height of the wave of displacement from neighboring villages, pointing at the time to coordination that took place with the army and the Ministry of Interior to address the conditions of displaced people there, which reflects the role played by the border municipalities, not only in managing the affairs of their residents, but also in dealing with the repercussions of displacement and population movement resulting from the escalation.
Also in his municipal activity, Al-Hajjar received the mayor of Ghalboun, Elie Gabriel, and discussed with him the municipal affairs and its needs, as part of a series of meetings held by the Ministry of Interior with the municipal councils to follow up on local files.
Al-Hajjar’s meetings come at a time when southern municipalities bear a large part of the responsibility for managing the daily repercussions of damage and displacement, starting with following up on the needs of residents and providing services, all the way to assessing the damage, preparing rehabilitation files, and organizing return when it becomes possible.
Recent estimates show the breadth of the challenge awaiting the South. On June 23, 2026, the United Nations Development Program announced that a rapid assessment of damage to buildings south of the Litani River estimated direct losses at about $1.38 billion, with about 3.1 million cubic meters of rubble. The assessment included the districts of Bint Jbeil, Marjayoun, Nabatieh, Tyre, and Sidon.
These numbers put municipalities before tasks that exceed their traditional capabilities, as the recovery phase is not related to repairing homes alone, but rather includes restoring water and electricity networks, roads, health and educational facilities, removing rubble, and securing the necessary conditions for the return of residents in a stable and safe manner.
Hence, Al-Hajjar’s focus on the role of municipalities gains special importance, as they are the official body closest to the population and most closely interacted with their daily needs, while the success of return and reconstruction remains linked to the ability of the state and its institutions to provide financial, technical, and logistical support to these councils.
Between Bint Jbeil, which is preparing a plan to manage displacement and return, and Rmeish and Dibal, whose people are committed to staying, the Interior Minister’s meetings reflect a different picture of the conditions of the southern towns, but they agree on one need: to keep the state present, and to support the municipalities that stand in the first line to confront the effects of destruction and displacement, and to secure the minimum level of stability and services until the start of the comprehensive reconstruction phase.
