Women Journalists Without Chains (WJWC) expressed deep concern over the continued displacement of hundreds of thousands of people inside Lebanon, citing insecurity, damaged housing and infrastructure,

explosive hazards, and the collapse of essential services and livelihoods as major obstacles to safe and dignified return.

According to United Nations data, 334,353 individuals remain displaced as of 26 August 2026, including 19,543 sheltering in 196 collective centers. While more than 823,000 have returned to their areas of origin, thousands of families are still unable to go back due to destroyed homes, ongoing risks, and the absence of basic services and income opportunities.

The organization noted that refugees and displaced households face worsening conditions: rising rents, eviction threats, overcrowded or inadequate housing, shrinking humanitarian aid, and mounting psychosocial pressures. Economic hardship is forcing some children out of school and into labor, further deepening the crisis.

WJWC stressed that return must be voluntary, safe, and dignified, warning that any coercion or forced return to unsafe areas violates international protection standards and endangers lives. The organization called on the Lebanese government and international actors to guarantee legal and humanitarian safeguards for all displaced persons and refugees, including secure shelter, healthcare, education, psychosocial support, legal assistance, and sustainable livelihoods, while protecting families from eviction and exploitation.

It further urged the expansion of mine‑clearance programs, risk‑awareness campaigns, and rehabilitation of housing, infrastructure, and essential services in areas of return, with priority given to women, children, older persons, persons with disabilities, and households that have lost their income.

WJWC also appealed to international donors to increase funding for Lebanon’s humanitarian response and ensure aid continues without being tied to premature returns. The organization emphasized that declining displacement figures do not signal the end of the crisis: return is only genuine when families find safe homes, functioning services, and opportunities to rebuild their lives.