By Samah Abdul-Fattah | 2026-09-07

Hizbullah's repeated wars have inflicted catastrophic damage on Lebanese society, leaving deep psychological scars across vulnerable communities.

These conflicts go far beyond physical destruction, striking at the core of social stability and emotional well-being.

Rana Salloum, a social worker supporting displaced persons in Sidon, in South Lebanon, highlights the severe toll of this ongoing crisis.

"The successive wars caused by Hizbullah in Lebanon have had catastrophic consequences," Salloum said.

"These go beyond civilian casualties or material losses, striking at the very core of society through the psychological wounds," she added.

Instability and persistent fear of future

Displacement naturally creates overwhelming instability and persistent fear of the future for residents forced from their conflict zones.

Many families face acute destitution after losing their jobs, homes, and life savings to these unpredictable, recurring battles.

Relocating to unfamiliar areas presents significant challenges, as families struggle to adapt while impacting their new host communities.

Salloum noted that the psychological effects are among the most serious ailments currently facing the displaced population today.

"These effects are often accompanied by symptoms such as joint pain, sleep disturbances, and a constant fear that the experience will repeat itself," she added.

For most survivors, painful memories and chronic symptoms continue to haunt them, regardless of where they eventually find shelter.

Through her work, she observed that women and girls suffer disproportionately due to increased risks of domestic violence.

"Access to psychological care is virtually non-existent; most of what is available relies on the personal efforts of activists," Salloum noted.

Education sector faces immense challenges

Munira Haidar, a public school teacher from a southern village, lost her home and business during recent combat.

"I live now with my family in a shelter in the city of Sidon and try to create as normal an environment as possible for my children," she told Al-Fassel.

Haidar emphasizes that the educational sector is among the hardest hit, impacting both displaced students and host communities.

"Given my extensive experience in education, I can say that children struggle to maintain focus, no matter how hard they try," she said.

Teachers also struggle to perform under the immense, daily psychological pressures they endure alongside their own personal losses.

"Hizbullah's recurrent wars have caused massive financial losses for thousands of families, most of whom have lost everything," Haidar concluded.

The extent of this damage requires vast resources and time to restore any semblance of a normal life.

This reality sharply contradicts Hizbulla's claims of broad popular support, as the base for such conflicts continues to shrink steadily.

Hizbullah's regional interference fuels constant fear, trapping communities in a cycle of trauma and exacerbating the nation's mental health crisis.