The ceasefire signed between Israel and Hezbollah put an end to the hostilities that had shaken Lebanon for more than a month. In Nabatiyeh, a strategic town in the south of the country, bulldozers have begun to clear the ruins of the old souk, one of the places most affected by Israeli strikes.
This clean-up, which marks a first step towards the resumption of economic activity, reveals the extent of the destruction and the challenges awaiting residents.
Since the ceasefire agreement came into force, Nabatiyeh, like many other Lebanese cities, has begun to heal its wounds. The old city, founded in the Ottoman era, was almost razed to the ground by Israeli aerial bombardments. The destruction of the souk, the nerve center of the local economy, dealt a fatal blow to traders and the population. This cleaning operation is a sign of hope, but also a reminder of the colossal damage suffered.
Ibrahim Salloum, owner of a store in the old souk, spoke about the situation. “We have to reorganize things, we can’t sit still, we have to reorganize our stores. We have many stores in this area. We need to know what the plan is proposed by the municipality, the committee, the government, the resistance (Hezbollah) and we will be ready.” Residents are waiting for concrete decisions from local authorities to restart their activities. Cooperation between the municipality, local groups and the Lebanese government is essential to define a reconstruction plan.
The challenges are enormous. According to Mehdi Yousef, engineer supervising the clearance work, the extent of the destruction exceeds expectations. “The destruction is very sad and very significant. It is more than we had imagined. The duration of the redevelopment will depend on the available capacities of our government or donors. The will is very strong and we rely on God and the efforts of the population.” Despite the Lebanese’s desire to restore their city, the lack of resources and external support constitutes a major obstacle to rapid reconstruction.
The town of Nabatiyeh, like other regions of southern Lebanon, remains in shock. More than 3,700 people have been killed in Lebanon since the conflict began, and hundreds of thousands more have been displaced. Tensions remain high and the humanitarian situation precarious. If the ceasefire brings a glimmer of hope, the future remains uncertain. The population fears additional violence before lasting peace is truly established.
In the meantime, residents of Nabatiyeh and other devastated towns hope that cleanup efforts will help rebuild some semblance of normalcy. However, the stabilization of the country and the reconstruction of infrastructure require the intervention of international donors and substantial support from the Lebanese government. If this ceasefire is a first step towards peace, uncertainty remains as to its sustainability, and the region remains fragile.
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