Totally Fine Foundation · Issue 012 · Displacement / Ceasefire

Lebanon Displacement and Returns 2026

Last reviewed 2026-11-06 · Totally Fine Foundation editorial desk · 9 min

UNHCR counted around 860,000 people back in their areas of origin by 18 August 2026, and about 360,000 still displaced. At least 22,000 remained in collective shelters. Many returnees faced damaged homes, widespread destruction and shortages of essential services. UNHCR reported fresh Israeli airstrikes in the south sent families north again, despite the ceasefire. Beirut News reported a government framework for return and reconstruction; the claim is unverified.

Metrics

860.000 personas — Personas retornadas (ACNUR)
Caveat: UNHCR estimate as of 18 August 2026; does not cover returns after that date or methodological differences with IOM, which recorded 834,651 returnees as of 5 August 2026.
Sources: unhcr.org — UNHCR briefing: returns pass 850,000 but displacement persists
834.651 personas — Personas retornadas (OIM)
Caveat: IOM/DTM registration as of 5 August 2026; does not cover subsequent movements; UNHCR reported 860,000 returnees as of 18 August 2026.
Sources: dtm.iom.int — IOM DTM Mobility Snapshot Round 111 (3–5 August 2026)
360.000 personas — Personas desplazadas (ACNUR)
Caveat: UNHCR estimate as of 18 August 2026; does not cover subsequent displacement; IOM recorded 352,793 displaced people as of 5-6 August 2026.
Sources: unhcr.org — UNHCR briefing: returns pass 850,000 but displacement persists
352.793 personas — Personas desplazadas (OIM)
Caveat: IOM/DTM registration as of 5-6 August 2026; does not cover subsequent movements; UNHCR estimated 360,000 displaced as of 18 August 2026.
Sources: dtm.iom.int — IOM DTM Mobility Snapshot Round 111 (3–5 August 2026); data.unhcr.org — Protection in Lebanon: One-Pager SitRep #15, 2 March to 7 August 2026
22.000 personas — Personas en alojamientos colectivos (ACNUR)
Caveat: UNHCR estimate as of 18 August 2026; does not cover all displaced people; IOM recorded 26,192 people in 244 collective sites as of 5 August 2026.
Sources: unhcr.org — UNHCR briefing: returns pass 850,000 but displacement persists
26.192 personas en 244 sitios — Personas en alojamientos colectivos (OIM)
Caveat: IOM/DTM registration as of 5 August 2026; does not cover subsequent changes; UNHCR estimated 22,000 people in collective shelters as of 18 August 2026.
Sources: dtm.iom.int — IOM DTM Mobility Snapshot Round 111 (3–5 August 2026); data.unhcr.org — Protection in Lebanon: One-Pager SitRep #15, 2 March to 7 August 2026

The Long Return: Lebanon's Displacement After the Ceasefire

The arithmetic of return: 860,000 back, 360,000 still out

By 18 August 2026, around 860,000 people had returned to their areas of origin in Lebanon, according to UNHCR. IOM recorded 834,651 returnees as of 5 August 2026.

Approximately 360,000 people remained displaced as of 18 August 2026, according to UNHCR. IOM recorded 352,793 displaced people as of 5-6 August 2026.

At least about 22,000 displaced people remained in collective shelters as of 18 August 2026, according to UNHCR. IOM recorded 26,192 people in 244 collective sites as of 5 August 2026.

Lebanon's Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE), in an assessment published 28 October 2026, reports that approximately 20% of learners in Lebanon were displaced by the war and approximately 27% experienced interruptions to their education. The assessment is also reported to state that approximately 12% of teachers and other education personnel were displaced. It is further reported to state that approximately 200,000 learners enrolled in schools in war-affected areas experienced severe disruption and that nearly 100,000 learners were unable to return to their schools because of damage, destruction, insecurity or displacement. A summary of the report states that the escalation across Lebanon in the first half of 2026 displaced 1.2 million people.

According to OCHA's Inter-Agency Response Update of 31 October 2026, 964,689 internally displaced people in Lebanon had returned to their areas of origin — a 13 per cent increase since September 2026. Around 304,500 people remained displaced outside their areas of origin as of 31 October 2026, per the same update.

According to UNHCR's 31 October 2026 report, the reported total includes both refugees confirmed to have returned and people inactivated because of prolonged absence or loss of contact. The same report states that 86% of the reported returnees—611,743 people—returned spontaneously, including 65,500 people who returned under duress and remained in Syria.

UNHCR reported on 31 October 2026 that the General Security Office identified 147,000 returnees while crossing through an official crossing point without a Repatriation Form. The report also states that 35,903 people were identified as returning because of force majeure after 2 March 2026.

According to the same UNHCR report, 363,340 people were inactivated because of prolonged absence or loss of contact, or had their return confirmed through interviews with family members. UNHCR reported 99,889 individuals assisted—82,597 under the voluntary repatriation programme and 17,292 under the return-due-to-force-majeure programme.

Sources: unhcr.org — UNHCR briefing: returns pass 850,000 but displacement persists; dtm.iom.int — IOM DTM Mobility Snapshot Round 111 (3–5 August 2026); data.unhcr.org — ACNUR Flash Update #15: Líbano, 18 de agosto de 2026

Homes, destruction, and the missing services

Many returnees face damaged homes, widespread destruction and a lack of essential services, according to UNHCR, NRC and UN-Habitat.

MEHE's assessment, published 28 October 2026, reports that at least 86 teachers were killed or injured in the Israeli war on Lebanon; the ministry describes this as a documented minimum, not a national total. According to a summary of the report, 436 education facilities were affected by at least one attack, 37 educational facilities were destroyed, and 433 public education facilities were repurposed as shelters for displaced people. MEHE and partners are reported to be prioritizing the rehabilitation of safe learning spaces, learning recovery and protection services ahead of the new school year.

Landmines, explosive remnants of war and continued military activities reportedly threaten civilian safety and restrict access to agricultural land, particularly during the olive harvest season, undermining livelihoods and recovery.

The academic year reportedly began in mid-September 2026 despite extensive damage to schools across South and Nabatieh governorates. OCHA reports that, as of 31 October 2026, approximately 57 public educational facilities remained in use as collective shelters.

Humanitarian partners are reportedly consolidating shelters and prioritising safe, voluntary and dignified relocation of IDPs from shelters scheduled to close, with targeted assistance to vulnerable displaced households inside and outside shelters amid funding and access constraints.

According to FEWS NET's Food Security Outlook Update published 2026-11-03, Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes are projected to persist through May 2027 across South, El-Nabatieh, Baalbek–El-Hermel, Akkar, and parts of North and Bekaa governorates. FEWS NET expects Stressed (IPC Phase 2) outcomes through May 2027 in Beirut, Mount Lebanon, and parts of North and Bekaa, reflecting locally improved conditions since June.

The IPC Acute Food Insecurity Analysis published 2026-11-05 estimates approximately 1.05 million people, 21 percent of the analysed population, in IPC Phase 3 or above for September 2026 – February 2027, including 52,000 in Emergency (IPC Phase 4) and approximately 997,000 in Crisis (IPC Phase 3). According to the IPC analysis, the improvement compared with the previous analysis partly reflects a reduction in the overall population of Syrian refugees in Lebanon. Reports indicate acute food insecurity is particularly severe among refugees and recently displaced Lebanese populations. Available reporting suggests Lebanon's acute food insecurity is driven by the cumulative impact of two consecutive conflicts in less than two years, a fragile economic environment, and high or rising food, fuel and living costs.

Save the Children said on 6 November 2026 that levels of child malnutrition and hunger are rising in Lebanon. According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), the number of people struggling to meet essential needs had risen 15.4% since April, with 2.15 million people lacking any coping measures, as reported on 6 November 2026. Restricted access to farmland and destruction of agricultural and civilian infrastructure in the south are reported to be undermining food production and reducing meals and dietary diversity for children. Refugees and recently displaced Lebanese populations are reportedly among the groups most affected by food insecurity in Lebanon.

Sources: unhcr.org — UNHCR briefing: returns pass 850,000 but displacement persists; nrc.no — NRC statement: large-scale displacement persists amid destruction and military activity; unhabitat.org — UN-Habitat Assessment of Displacement-Affected Municipalities in Lebanon

Airstrikes in the south and the new flight north

UNHCR reported that new Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon over the weekend caused a new wave of displacement, with families fleeing north.

The security situation remains fragile and attacks continue despite ceasefire agreements or announcements, according to UNHCR and Youm7.

Reports indicate intermittent but persistent Israeli airstrikes, demolitions, movement restrictions and military presence near the border continue to limit access to agricultural land and constrain livelihood recovery in southern Lebanon, particularly within and near the Yellow Line, despite lower levels of hostilities. Available reporting suggests hostilities and displacement in Lebanon have declined since the peak escalation period, reportedly contributing to slight improvements in food security compared with earlier analyses.

According to Save the Children, Israeli attacks have destroyed almost one quarter of agricultural land in southern Lebanon, as reported on 6 November 2026. The latest IPC analysis, as relayed by Save the Children on the same date, projects that the number of people facing crisis levels of food insecurity or worse will rise from about 1.05 million to 1.15 million during the March-to-July 2027 projection period. An IPC projected analysis released on 29 April 2026 by Lebanon's Ministry of Agriculture with FAO found that conflict escalation was pushing nearly a quarter of the population into acute food insecurity and had reversed recent food security gains.

Sources: unhcr.org — UNHCR briefing: new displacement despite announced ceasefire; youm7.com — Youm7: UNIFIL reports military escalation in southern Lebanon

A national framework, reported by Beirut News and unverified

UNHCR and NRC state that Lebanon's displacement and humanitarian crisis is far from over.

Beirut News reported that the Lebanese government has presented a national framework for return, early recovery, restoration of basic services and preparation for reconstruction. This report is unverified and is not corroborated by the sources in this dossier.

Sources: unhcr.org — UNHCR briefing: returns pass 850,000 but displacement persists; nrc.no — NRC statement: large-scale displacement persists amid destruction and military activity