Dozens of Kfar Kila residents demand reconstruction of their village in a sit-in

Dozens of residents from the border village of Kfar Kila (Marjayoun district) gathered Sunday at the Kfar Roummane roundabout, at the northern entrance to Nabatieh, to protest delays in the reconstruction of their village, our correspondent in the South reports.

In a statement, they said this sit-in is only "a first step in a civilized and peaceful process aimed at making the residents’ voices heard by all parties concerned with the reconstruction file and assistance for those affected."

The signatories stated that they do not wish to "enter into confrontation or conflict."

They said they are ready to "extend a hand to the state so it can assume its responsibilities toward them" and are demanding that it "stand by their side and work to restore what has been lost."

The statement specifies that the residents will later begin a series of actions and symbolic sit-ins in front of the relevant official institutions if their demands are not met.

It calls on the parties concerned to "carefully listen to the residents’ outcry" and to make urgent decisions.

Otherwise, the signatories threaten to resort to "new measures of escalation" that will nonetheless remain "peaceful and legal."

The World Bank estimates the cost of reconstructing southern Lebanon at $11 billion, not including costs resulting from strikes carried out after the cease-fire, which took effect at the end of November 2024.

Since then, reconstruction has remained at a standstill, and the future of border communities seems uncertain, as U.S. envoys have proposed demilitarizing the entire region to create an “economic zone,” in exchange for Hezbollah disarmament.