Riza South Lebanon visit - 5 December 2024
Description
STORY: OCHA / SOUTH LEBANON FIELD VISIT
TRT: 4:08
SOURCE: OCHA
RESTRICTIONS: PLEASE CREDIT OCHA ON SCREEN
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 04 DECEMBER 2024, NABATIEH AND SOUTH LEBANON
Shotlist
1. Wide shot, driving to South Lebanon
04 DECEMBER2024, SERAIL IN SAIDA CITY
3. Wide shot, convoy entering the serail, meeting with the acting governor of South Lebanon and governor of Nabatieh, Howaida al-Turk, and representatives of the government and local authorities, in addition to representative from UNHCR and UNDP
4. Wide shot, people entering (Imran Riza, Lebanon HC; Kristen Knutson, head of OCHA Lebanon; Minister Yassin, among others).
5. Wide shot, greeting Al-Turk, with her is the head of the municipality of Saida city, Hazem Badie
6. Various shots, meeting meeting with the acting governor of South Lebanon and governor of Nabatieh, Howaida al-Turk, and representatives of the government and local authorities, in addition to representative from UNHCR and UNDP
7. Various shots, with al-Turk, Badie, Riza, and Yassin, a meeting with the key stakeholders on long-term recovery needs and challenges (meeting official name is: preparatory meeting to develop a post-war action plan), attended by Janan Shandar on behalf of UNDP, Galier Bern on behalf of UNHCR, Colonel Ghiath Al-Mukhtar on behalf of the Supreme Defense Council, Dr. Hilda Khoury, on behalf of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, among others (DRM, Ministry of Social Affairs, Red Cross)
04 DECEMBER 2024, NABATIEH
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Imran Riza, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon:
“We were with Minister Yassin and with many others. We were actually in a meeting in the Serail at that time and we started getting messages about hearing that this strike has happened. So to come here today and see the extent of damage and the extent of recovery, reconstruction that needs to be done, I think that is the basic point of our being here today.”
04 DECEMBER2024, NABATIEH MARKET, NABATIEH
9. Various shots, a historical market that has been targeted heavily by bombs.
10. Various shots, destruction in the city of Nabatieh
04 DECEMBER 2024, NABATIEH
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Imran Riza, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon:
“And so many people were lost on that day and throughout the last two and a half months, the number of casualties and the amount of destruction that's happened. Here looking around, it's an area which was, the center of business, the center of of the life of. But here. It's going to take a lot to reconstruct this and to bring this back. But also, what we've seen just in the last week in one week is, about 600,000 people on the move trying to move back close to their homes, trying to really see how they reestablish their lives.”
04 DECEMBER2024, NABATIEH MARKET, NABATIEH
12. Various shots, destruction in the city of Nabatieh
13. Various shots, Nabatieh municipality building location, which was destroyed by an Israeli airstrike at the time when a DRM meeting was being held there on humanitarian assistance coordination killing the head of the municipality of Nabatieh, and several humanitarian workers from DRM colleagues.
04 DECEMBER 2024, NABATIEH
14. SOUNDBITE (English) Imran Riza, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon:
“There's a huge amount of recovery assistance that's needed. There's a huge amount of support to local authorities, to the institutions that are dealing with people and trying to help people. We have to to mobilize all of this. And what Minister Yassin was talking about, reconstruction, the government, of course, needs a plan for reconstruction. And we need to see how all of that will be financed as well.”
15. Wide shot, observing a minute of silence at the site of targeting
16. Med shot, the building sign reads “union of municipalities of Nabatieh and Al-Shaqif - Research and empowerment center” [this is a building adjacent to the building that was brought to the ground].
17. Wide shot, people are leaving through the gate [the black arch reads that this is the union of the municiaplities.
18. Various shots, destruction in Nabatieh city.
Storyline
Humanitarian Coordinator in Lebanon Imran Riza visited Nabatieh, Lebanon to address the needs of the people affected by the violence and hostilities of recent months, noting that the immense challenges ahead, given the widespread displacement and destruction.
The Humanitarian Coordinator was accompanied by Lebanon's Emergency Committee Coordinator and caretaker Environment Minister Nasser Yassin, alongside representatives from UNDP, UNHCR, and local authorities.
The visit is the first in a series of field visits and meetings to assess the current humanitarian situation and needs in Lebanon, and inform on long-term recovery needs and challenges.
The visit coincided with the mark of one week since the ceasefire came into effect in Lebanon.
In a statement, the Humanitarian Coordinator said that the joint visit to Nabatieh reflects the strong collaboration between the Government of Lebanon, local authorities, and humanitarian partners in addressing the needs of the people affected by the violence and hostilities of recent months.
The UN remain deeply mindful of the lives lost, amongst whom are frontline workers, healthcare providers, humanitarian staff, and civilians, including DRM personnel. Their sacrifice underscores the urgent need for safe, secure conditions for all humanitarian actors and returnees.
While the ceasefire offers a vital break, it remains delicate. Violations in certain areas and ongoing tensions along the border are significant concerns. Continuous international engagement and robust monitoring will be essential to establish stability during the 60-day ceasefire period, and ensure the protection of civilians.
The humanitarian response is evolving with the changing needs on the ground. An estimated 600,000 internally displaced persons are starting to go home, with two thirds heading to the South and Nabatieh Governorate. The return process is not without significant challenges.
Many homes are destroyed, and infrastructure is heavily damaged. The South and Nabatieh have experienced an overwhelming level of destruction, with tens of thousands of buildings either partially or completely destroyed. Access to essential services like healthcare, water, and education remains limited. And while scaling up services in areas with high returns, support is ongoing for those still displaced.
Unhindered and swift humanitarian access is essential, along with sustained funding and donor support. Urgent investments in basic services and infrastructure are critical. Lebanon's recovery demands a unified effort from all stakeholders.
The strong leadership of the government and local authorities during both the emergency and recovery phases has been unfettered. The UN remains fully committed to adapting our response to the evolving situation and continuing to support the Government at all levels.
The people of Lebanon deserve more than survival. They deserve the opportunity to rebuild their lives and livelihoods, contribute to their communities, and collectively pave the way for lasting peace and development.