Mais al-Jabal mayor assures 'no official order to empty the town,' amid residents' concern

SOUR — A recent video showing dozens of trucks loaded with goods leaving Mais al-Jabal has triggered widespread concern among residents of the southern border village. According to L'Orient Today's correspondent in the area, the mass departure, filmed and spread widely on social media, has led to panic, with many fearing that essential supplies will soon dwindle in the area, where a few families still live, amid nearly 11 months of Israeli strikes.

The video shows a convoy of trucks loaded with goods leaving the village in Marjayoun district, accompanied by the Lebanese Army. 

In an effort to calm the growing unease, Mais al-Jabal’s mayor, Abdel Monaem Shoucair, addressed the situation in a comment to L'Orient Today.

"Mais al-Jabal is a large and significant market, home to around 165 businesses, with warehouses stocked with a wide variety of goods, including carpets, household items, foodstuffs and sanitary products, valued at approximately $100 million," he explained. "These goods have largely remained untouched since last year, with only a small fraction used by their owners."

Historically, Mais al-Jabal was a bustling marketplace known for its carpets and household goods, supported by numerous factories and companies, according to the mayor. However, as the conflict intensified, traders began relocating their merchandise at their own risk. This situation escalated in May following the killing of a family of four in an Israeli strike, as they were transporting produce from their supermarket in the town.

"After the massacre, the process of transporting goods nearly came to a halt due to fears of further attacks," the mayor noted. Following this, the Lebanese Army stepped in to oversee and regulate the movement of goods, offering traders limited schedules to ensure safety during transport.

The recent increase in truck activity has heightened fears that the village could soon run out of essential supplies. "This is a natural process with no official order to empty the town, as has been speculated on social media," the municipality head reassured. He also highlighted that "only a small percentage of traders — less than 10 percent — have moved their goods, and the trucks seen in the video represent a very minor portion of the town's stockpiled items."

Despite these reassurances, the unusual movement of trucks continues to fuel anxiety among residents about a potential shortage of goods in Mais al-Jabal.

The mayor emphasized that the goal behind the transport of goods is economic survival. "Traders are looking to open branches in other areas to support their families during the conflict," he stated, reaffirming their commitment to returning to Mais al-Jabal once the situation stabilizes.

Hezbollah and Israel have been exchanging attacks daily for almost a year including in the border area of Mais al-Jabal.