MSF update: Southern Lebanon -where is the ceasefire?

Since the November 2024 ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon, Israeli attacks have persisted on several regions in the country and have intensified in southern Lebanon. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the Lebanese government report more than 15,400 ceasefire violations by Israeli forces, while more than 370 people have been killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon since the ceasefire began. These attacks are driving repeated waves of displacement, damaging civilian infrastructure, including homes and essential services, and preventing thousands of people from returning to their villages to rebuild. “The continuing Israeli attacks don't just destroy houses and infrastructure; they erode the pillars of daily life and recovery,” said Jeremy Ristord, Head of Programmes for MSF in Lebanon.

Since the beginning of 2026 alone, Israeli forces have issued 13 so-called evacuation orders, damaging 1,406 residential units, according to the Council of South Lebanon. ​ While some attacks were preceded by so-called evacuation orders, this has not always been the case — leaving communities across the south and Bekaa living in constant uncertainty and fear. Hawraa al-Mokdad is a mother and nursing teacher who lost her home in Kfar Tebnit on 2 February. “I was at the nursing institute when one of my students told me that my house was in an area under threat of being bombed. In a single moment, I realized I was going to lose my home, my garden, and everything that holds my memories and those of my children. It was painful and shocking, but at the same time, this is the reality that Israeli attacks have imposed on our lives for some time now.”

Hawraa visited our mobile medical clinic in Kfar Tebnit with her two children after she and her family faced a loss that left them reeling. The destruction was not limited to their home and personal belongings; they also lost their identity documents, medical files, and everything else that documented their lives—a shock that stripped them of their sense of stability. “My eldest son is facing difficulties studying and a lack of concentration, while his younger brother has become noticeably more restless,” Hawraa said. Choking back tears, she added, "Every morning, my boys remember their toys and all the moments they spent in our home before it was destroyed.”

With each new Israeli strike, pre-existing humanitarian needs are exacerbated, adding to the psychological burden borne by people who continue to show exceptional resilience in these conditions. In the aftermath of the airstrikes on Kfar Tebnit, MSF teams mobilized immediately to respond to urgent needs, distributing 40 food parcels alongside 100 blankets, 100 mattresses, and 100 pillows to the affected families. Meanwhile, our mobile medical and mental health teams have continued to provide primary healthcare services, psychological support, and health promotion activities across the governorate to support residents living through repeated trauma and continuous displacement.

“Our teams are present on the ground, delivering urgent aid and supporting healthcare. But what we responded to in Kfar Tebnit is not an isolated incident: it reflects the reality for thousands of people in southern Lebanon,” said Ristord. “Families are living in constant uncertainty, never knowing if their home or loved ones will be struck next. Again and again, we hear people ask: where is the ceasefire?”

Notes:

In southern Lebanon, the MSF mobile clinic provides essential services, including primary care, paediatrics, sexual and reproductive health, and mental health services. In 2025 alone, our teams in Nabatieh provided over 28,000 general consultations, around 2,800 mental health consultations, and more than 10,300 health promotion sessions. These activities are continuing throughout 2026, amidst the ongoing Israeli bombardment in the region. Our teams also respond to the urgent needs following these devastating attacks and the resulting displacement by distributing essential relief items—such as food parcels, blankets, mattresses, and other necessities—to affected families. These families have not yet reached the recovery they so desperately need; rather, they are experiencing what amounts to mere survival under fire.