Months of conflict in Lebanon have devastated communities, leaving thousands of displaced people unable to return to their homes in southern Lebanon. Independent human rights experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council warned on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, that civilians are suffering a “devastating and disproportionate toll,” with homes destroyed, entire towns cut off, and many areas remaining inaccessible.
Since March 2, more than 4,300 people have reportedly been killed, including 392 women and 253 children, and over 12,000 injured. The experts emphasized that evacuation should be an exceptional and strictly temporary measure, used only to protect civilian safety or for imperative military reasons—not to depopulate or occupy areas. They stressed that displaced civilians have the right to return voluntarily and safely once conditions allow.
The conflict has severely impacted healthcare services, with hospitals and maternity wards damaged or closed, forcing many women to give birth in overcrowded shelters without essential care. The experts highlighted that “forced displacement has exposed women and girls to heightened risks of violence and abuse, while the destruction of healthcare services has deprived many of essential reproductive and maternal healthcare.”
They underscored that protecting civilians, including women and girls, during times of war is a legal obligation for all warring parties that must be urgently upheld.
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