From Aanqoun to Sidon: A new wave of displacement sweeps southern Lebanon

According to a report by Al Jazeera from the Haret Saida area in southern Lebanon, large numbers of residents were forced to flee their homes after Israel issued warnings covering more than ten villages in the Nabatieh and Zahrani districts, followed by airstrikes on some of those areas.
The town of Aanqoun, near Sidon, which had previously been regarded as relatively safe, has witnessed a fresh influx of displaced people in recent days. The area, which had been hosting more than 2,800 displaced persons across two shelter centers, experienced a mass departure of both residents and displaced families after receiving security warnings.
Many families have sought refuge in Haret Saida and the city of Sidon, while others have continued north toward Beirut.
In response to the growing number of displaced people, the Haret Saida municipality opened a new facility last week known as the "Karama Center." Local officials stressed that the site is not a refugee camp but a temporary shelter for families forced to leave their homes. The center consists of tents erected along a street that has been closed specifically for this purpose.
One displaced woman from the town of Shhour in the Tyre district said that she managed to reach the center only after intense bombardment. Upon arrival, she was provided with basic accommodation and essential supplies.
Mustafa Al-Zein, mayor of Haret Saida, said the Karama Center was established within just 24 hours through cooperation between the municipal council and local volunteers, enabling it to accommodate dozens of homeless families.
According to Al-Zein, the number of displaced people currently in the Haret Saida area is estimated at between 38,000 and 40,000. He explained that the latest displacement wave has forced some families to seek shelter in private homes, while others have been relocated to northern Lebanon due to limited capacity.
He emphasized that despite limited resources, the municipality is working to provide essential services, with much of the support coming from community organizations, charitable donors, and local volunteers.
Al-Zein also said authorities are prepared to establish additional shelters if the displacement crisis continues.
Despite receiving basic assistance, many displaced families remain eager to return home.
A displaced woman from the town of Adloun said that food and essential services are available at the shelter, but being separated from her home and normal life remains the most painful aspect of displacement.
Another displaced resident said that after briefly returning home during the ceasefire period, he has once again been forced to leave. According to him, conflicting reports about the possibility of a renewed ceasefire have prompted many families to postpone plans to return.
Reports indicate that while assistance provided at shelters has eased some economic hardships, it has done little to alleviate the uncertainty and anxiety faced by displaced people in southern Lebanon. Many continue to hope that improved security conditions will allow them to return to their towns and villages.
These developments come as Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon continue. Despite a fragile ceasefire that has been in place since April 17, the attacks have continued to increase the number of casualties and displaced civilians.
According to official figures, since the start of the latest round of large-scale Israeli attacks on Lebanon on March 2, thousands of people have been killed or wounded, while more than one million others have been forced to leave their homes—underscoring what has become one of Lebanon's most severe humanitarian crises in recent years.