Aoun asks IOM to 'pay greater attention to the situation of Lebanese displaced people' and receives youth from Yaroun

BEIRUT — President Joseph Aoun has asked director general of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Amy Pope, "to pay greater attention to the situation of Lebanese displaced people," with more than a million having fled regions devastated by Israeli bombardment since the resumption of war with Hezbollah on March 2. He also sought her support for "the communities hosting them" in safer regions.

The head of state spoke during a meeting at Baabda with Amy Pope, to whom he also stressed "the importance of continued international support for Lebanon at this delicate moment in its history," according to an initial statement published by the presidency on X. Amy Pope assured that the IOM "continues its work with various international partners to secure the necessary funding and to strengthen the humanitarian response" and is coordinating the work between humanitarian actors operating in Lebanon.

President Joseph Aoun also received a delegation of young people from Yaroun, a southern border village in the Bint Jbeil district which has been largely destroyed by Israel. They informed him of the challenges faced by residents, who were forced to flee, leaving the village nearly deserted, as the Israeli army destroyed about 70% of their houses. The village of Yaroun was almost entirely demolished by strikes and explosives from the Israelis during their ground offensive in the South in the fall of 2024, and then during repeated incursions into the locality during the cease-fire between Hezbollah and Israel, between November 2024 and March 2026.

The members of the delegation affirmed the determination of all residents to return to their village and their attachment to their lands, properties, and places of worship, according to a second statement relayed by Baabda. They called for intervention to stop the destruction of the remaining homes in Yaroun and insisted on the need to rebuild them as soon as the current hostilities end. They also expressed their gratitude for the attention President Aoun has given to their situation. On this occasion, they also thanked the support received from the apostolic nuncio to Lebanon, Paolo Borgia. Over the past two weeks, he has led a series of convoys bringing humanitarian aid to southern residents who refused to leave their villages.

The president also received a call from Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten, during which he emphasized the "determination of the Lebanese state to implement the decisions taken to preserve its sovereignty, independence, and the integrity of its territory." Mr. Jetten, for his part, supported the head of state's initiative to begin direct negotiations with Israel, an initiative rejected by Tel Aviv.

He also met with the governor of the Banque du Liban (Central Bank, BDL), Karim Souhaid, to discuss the preventive measures implemented by the central bank to maintain financial stability in Lebanon and ensure liquidity in the markets, as well as preparations for Beirut's participation in the upcoming spring meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. The BDL will participate with a limited technical delegation, while Karim Souhaid will remain in Lebanon and join the meetings by videoconference. Finally, he received a report from the minister of Public Works and Transport, Fayez Rasamny, on the situation of public infrastructure, especially Beirut international airport and the ports of Beirut and Tripoli, as well as progress on the project to reopen René Moawad airport in Qleiaat.