The conflict between Israel and Lebanon has taken a devastating toll on the southern region of Lebanon. According to a recent UN report, more than 5,600 Israeli airstrikes ravaged the area between October 8, 2023, and September 20, 2024. These airstrikes included the use of white phosphorus, a banned incendiary weapon in densely populated areas under the UN’s 1980 Convention on Conventional Weapons.
The impact of these attacks has been catastrophic, with international NGOs deeming them as war crimes. The airstrikes have destroyed 1,900 hectares of farmland and forced another 1,200 hectares to be abandoned. Additionally, Lebanon has lost 47,000 olive trees, thousands of livestock animals, and 1,200 hectares of forest. The destruction of olive trees, in particular, has deep significance as they are a symbol of the land and its people, erasing history with each tree lost.
The bombardments have displaced countless families, like Syrian farmer Ahmad Mohammad Daoud, who now resides in an unfinished house in Saadnayel after abandoning his crops and livestock. The damage to the land is so severe that it may take years for it to become fertile again. Nearby, the Bujurna Juzurna organic farm has also been impacted, with a nearby house being bombed. The farm, which employs individuals from Lebanon, Syria, and France, faces uncertainty as the ongoing war threatens their ability to sustain their operations.
The targeting of Lebanon’s farmland by Israel’s bombardments not only endangers the livelihoods of farmers but also exacerbates the country’s already dire economic crisis. Lebanon heavily relies on food imports, with 80% of its food coming from abroad, and 82% of its population living below the poverty line. The war’s environmental consequences are vast, with concerns about heavy metals in bomb fuses and the potential use of toxic materials in munitions.
The destruction caused by the conflict extends far beyond the immediate impact on the land and livelihoods of farmers. Environmental researcher Abbas Baalbaki highlights the long-term consequences of ecosystem destruction and the immense energy required to rebuild destroyed villages. Farmers like Mustapha Sayyed from Beit Lif have lost everything due to the incessant bombardments, leaving them with nothing to return to even if the war were to cease.
Journalist Amélie David, who covers environmental and climate change stories in Lebanon, sheds light on the ongoing devastation caused by the conflict. As the bombings continue to destroy lives, land, and the environment, the urgent need for support and aid for affected communities becomes increasingly clear. Donations to initiatives like the Ecologist Writers’ Fund can help support journalists like Amélie in bringing attention to these critical issues and advocating for those impacted by the conflict in southern Lebanon.
