Uncertainty in Southern Lebanon Displaced Families Face Housing Crisis as New Academic Year Approaches

As the official start of the academic year nears, southern Lebanon is gripped by a humanitarian crisis that shows no signs of easing. Tens of thousands of displaced families remain caught between the need for secure housing and the urgent demand to reopen schools. Entire villages along the border have been impacted by ongoing conflict, forcing families into collective shelters—many of which are public school buildings.

For children, the disruption has been devastating. Instead of classrooms filled with lessons and laughter, they now live in makeshift dormitories, their education interrupted by repeated relocations. According to UN estimates, more than 22,000 displaced individuals currently reside in collective shelters across the region, with the majority housed inside public schools.

Southern Lebanon Displacement & Education Snapshot

Shelters vs. Classrooms: The Ministry’s Dilemma

Lebanese Education Minister Dr. Rima Karami recently toured southern communities to assess readiness for the school year. She acknowledged the government’s dual challenge: restoring education while avoiding abrupt evictions of families who have nowhere else to go.

“We have a very complex situation,” Karami explained. “In some cases, we don’t have available buildings; in others, families cannot return to their home towns. Our immediate focus is surveying these families directly to understand their location and decisions regarding placement.”

Local authorities are considering transitional prefabricated housing units and alternative municipal facilities. Yet displaced families report limited communication about relocation timelines, leaving them in limbo as the school year approaches.

Growing Strain on Local Communities

The housing squeeze has created ripple effects across southern Lebanon:

• Lack of Permanent Alternatives: Families whose homes were damaged or destroyed have few options outside public shelters.
• Overburdened School Infrastructure: Municipalities hosting displaced residents face severe shortages of classroom space for their own children.
• Disrupted Learning: Students in shelters have endured multiple academic interruptions over recent years.

Community advocates stress that any plan to clear schools must prioritize secure, dignified shelter arrangements before classes resume.

Adapting Education in Crisis Conditions

To keep students engaged, the Ministry of Education is exploring hybrid solutions:

• Phased In-Person Instruction: Rotating schedules to maximize limited classroom space.
• Shared Facility Shifts: Dividing school hours between displaced families and enrolled students.
• Targeted Remote Learning: Supplementing education with digital tools, though infrastructure damage limits effectiveness.

Security concerns along the southern border continue to complicate these plans. Many schools remain within restricted zones, making access unsafe for both teachers and students.

Human Impact: Families in Limbo

For displaced families, the uncertainty is more than logistical—it is deeply personal. Parents worry about their children’s future, while children themselves struggle with the psychological toll of instability. Living in crowded classrooms with little privacy, families face daily challenges in maintaining dignity and routine.

Local leaders emphasize that education and shelter are inseparable priorities. Without secure housing, children cannot focus on learning. Without functional schools, communities cannot rebuild.

The Road Ahead

As officials finalize transitional housing strategies, the crisis in southern Lebanon underscores the fragile balance between humanitarian needs and educational continuity. The coming weeks will determine whether displaced families find secure shelter and whether children can return to classrooms.

For now, the region stands at a crossroads: either it will adapt with resilience and compassion, or risk deepening the cycle of displacement and disrupted education.