“Since 1983, our feet have worn out from endlessly chasing news. I still sit at home thinking the door might knock any minute… I will kiss his feet if he comes back. I have never been able to accept it, as if he left only yesterday. I tell my children: I won’t forgive you if I die and you don’t ask about your brother.” Muntaha Haidar, mother of a disappeared person.For Muntaha, the search for truth has been a lifelong journey marked by loss and persistence. Her son disappeared during Lebanon’s civil war, leaving behind questions that no one could answer. Decades later, her story has become part of a new collective effort to keep memory alive. As one of the women who shared their testimonies in a new online course on the missing and forcibly disappeared, Muntaha speaks of pain and endurance, reminding learners that remembrance is also an act of justice.Across Lebanon, thousands of families like Muntaha’s continue to wait for answers. Nearly four decades since the end of the civil war, the fate of an estimated 17,000 people remains unknown. While the 2018 Law 105 established the National Commission for the Missing and Forcibly Disappeared, many families and advocates believe that real justice also depends on preserving collective memory and helping new generations understand this chapter of history as their own.This is where education becomes a bridge between remembrance and reform. Education as a Bridge to JusticeLebanon’s first Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on the missing and forcibly disappeared from a gender perspective was launched in October 2025. The course was developed by SEEDS for Legal Initiatives and La Sagesse University, in partnership with UN Women and UN Development Programme (UNDP), with the contributions of OHCHR and the support of the Government of Canada. It explores the legacy of the missing through a human rights and gender lens, connecting the struggles of the past to the responsibilities of the present.   Through video lectures, testimonies, and interactive materials, the course allows learners to understand how women – mothers, partners, sisters, and daughters – have carried the emotional, social, and economic burden of enforced disappearances while leading the fight for truth and justice.  From Loss to Learning: Education, Empathy, and DialogueWith the UN’s support, this initiative turns pain into education and activism into curriculum. As one of the first academic resources on gender and transitional justice in Lebanon, it provides teachers, students, and practitioners with tools to analyze the interplay between enforced disappearance, gender, and human rights – topics that were long absent from university programs.Since its launch, the course has drawn wide interest from students and civil society actors, with hundreds enrolling to explore how memory and justice intersect. Several universities are moving to integrate it in their curricula; La Sagesse University already uses it as a key reference in its legal studies program. One student who completed the course said it reshaped her understanding of Lebanon’s past and of her own family’s story. “While watching the videos at home, my father sat beside me, listening to every word,” she said. “That’s when I discovered my grandfather was among the disappeared – a story my family had never spoken about.”  This human impact – shifting attitudes, deepening empathy, and bridging generations – is what makes the course transformative. Designed to spark dialogue between academics and policymakers on integrating transitional justice into education, it also encourages families and young people to speak about remembrance and healing across generations. For students, the MOOC offers a safe space to discuss the war years and their aftermath, something rarely done openly in Lebanon. For families of the disappeared, it offers recognition that their decades-long struggle is not forgotten.The course’s success reflects a growing commitment to address Lebanon’s legacy of conflict through inclusive and gender-transformative approaches. By advancing the Women, Peace and Security Agenda as a tool for transitional justice, the course shows how women’s experiences and agency are central to peacebuilding, offering a resource that women’s rights organizations and community peacebuilders can use to train young mediators and community activists on memory, dialogue, and accountability.“This course invests in knowledge and awareness—tools that empower the next generation to engage constructively with Lebanon’s history and build a culture of truth and reconciliation,” says Blerta Aliko, UNDP Resident Representative in Lebanon. Echoing this, UN Women Representative Gielan El-Messiri stresses that the course fills a critical gap: “For too long, gender-specific experiences were absent from transitional justice processes. This course brings women’s stories to the heart of national memory.”
   Towards a Culture of Truth and Non-RecurrenceThe initiative reinforces collaboration between Lebanese academic institutions and civil society, turning universities into spaces of reflection and social change. Through the partnership between SEEDS for Legal Initiatives and La Sagesse University, the MOOC shows how national actors, supported by UN entities/international partners, can lead innovation in transitional justice and contribute to intergenerational dialogue about Lebanon’s violent past.Beyond its immediate reach, the course has the potential to shape broader reform efforts in Lebanon. As more educators and policymakers engage with its content, it could influence how history and civic education are taught, helping future generations to discuss Lebanon’s conflicts with openness and empathy.While education cannot replace long-awaited answers, it helps build a shared national memory that honors the disappeared and reinforces a commitment to justice and non-recurrence. By bringing remembrance into classrooms, the MOOC ensures that young people understand these violations, empathize with affected families, and help prevent such injustices from happening again. This initiative was implemented by UN Women and UNDP, with contributions from OHCHR, and with the generous support of the Government of Canada, in close partnership with local stakeholders.Lebanon’s first Massive Open Online Course on the missing and forcibly disappeared would not have been possible without the generous support from the Government of Canada, one of Lebanon’s top donors. Since 2016, Canada has contributed almost $540 million USD to Lebanon, strengthening protection, gender equality, social stability, food security, and health, among others. Canada is also a strong champion of pooled funding, supporting both the Lebanon Humanitarian Fund (LHF) and the Lebanon Recovery Fund (LRF). Further details on international assistance to Lebanon are available in the Lebanon Aid Tracking reports:  https://tinyurl.com/yc3deusc **This story was co-drafted by Ms. Diana Assaf (UN Women) and Ms. Kawsar Fahs (UNDP), with the support of Ms. Nadine Abi Zeid Daou (RCO/UNIC Beirut). The accompanying videos were produced by SEEDS for Legal Initiatives.

In Lebanon, children with disabilities and their families face daily challenges. For many, the financial pressures and the lack of accessible services once meant exclusion and isolation. Today, through the National Disability Allowance (NDA), they are finding pathways to inclusion, dignity and hope.Ghazal and Nancy: Learning and thriving with hearing supportGhazal (14) and her sister Nancy (11) (Bakhoun-Zgharta) were both born with hearing disabilities. Over the years, they underwent several operations. Yet, as their mother explains: “we still face challenges till today.”Ghazal is outgoing and loves engaging with people. With a smile, she says: “I want them to know that I can hear, and I don’t like a single day to pass without using my hearing aid.”At one point, however, the family had to go for two months without functioning hearing aids because they could not afford the batteries. “When I learned about the National Disability Allowance, I applied,” their mother recalls. “Now we use it to cover the essential cost of hearing aid batteries. Without this support, my daughters would be cut off from school and daily communication.”She adds: “With the allowance, they can continue using their hearing aids, hear like the other children at school and never miss out.”For Ghazal, the allowance means more than access, it means possibility. “If we had not received this support, I wouldn’t have been able to go to school,” she says. Today, she aspires to further studies, living a full and productive life, and one day buying new hearing aids for herself and her sister.  Sidra: Preserving sight, discovering talentSidra (14, Taalabaya-Bekaa) was born with congenital glaucoma, and the retina is almost completely damaged in her right eye, her father explains. Until the age of three, she had to undergo surgery every six months. As the family’s financial situation worsened, they could no longer afford the daily eye drops that were essential for treating her condition.That changed when they applied for the National Disability Allowance (NDA). Every month, Sidra’s family now receives an SMS text message notifying them that the monthly payment is available. “We couldn’t afford the eye drops before, but thanks to this support, I am now able to buy them, and I’ve been able to preserve my eyesight,” Sidra says.With her health stabilized, Sidra has embraced her passions. She is proud of learning music at a community center, and already plays both the flute and the piano. “When I play music, I feel a kind of peace inside me,” she shares. At the center, she also studies English, Arabic and science, and loves the sessions on how to bake bread.Sidra’s hopes are clear and confident: she wants to continue learning, nurture her talents, and achieve even greater success in the future.  Daniel:  Determination and resilience despite challengesDaniel (14, Zahle, Bekaa), lives with muscular atrophy that affects all the muscles in his body. Despite the challenges, he says: “I refuse to let this disability hold me back.”Through the National Disability Allowance (NDA), Daniel receives regular monthly support that helps cover the cost of physiotherapy and vitamins, ensuring he can continue with treatment and daily exercises that are essential for slowing the progression of his condition. His mother, Suzan, explains: “The support sustains us every month and helps cover his needs.”Daniel also shares a message of hope for others living with disabilities: “We must keep working on ourselves with determination, and hopefully we will overcome everything.” He dreams of greater inclusion in society and the chance to live a full and productive life, and is determined to prove that muscular atrophy does not define his future.  Zahr: Curious, organized and living with a hearing disabilityZahr (14, Majdlaya–Zgharta) was born with a hearing disability. From a young age, he has attended speech therapy sessions and continues to do so twice a week. Out of school for now, Zahr communicates in short interactions, shows [LM1]  curiosity and attention to detail. His father describes him as “eager to know everything.”Through the National Disability Allowance, Zahr receives USD 40 every month, the first regular support his family has ever received. “He is 14 years old now and no one had ever helped him before. Through this support, I feel reassured that in the future, someone out there cares and is willing to stand by him,” his father says.Now, the family’s goal is to find an inclusive school where Zahr’s eagerness to learn can be nurtured and supported.  What the NDA means for children with disabilitiesFor children with disabilities and their families across Lebanon, the National Disability Allowance is more than financial aid; it is recognition of the right to participate fully in life. They describe how the allowance enables them to maintain vital treatments such as speech therapy and physiotherapy, afford mobility aids and transport to medical facilities, and cover the costs of visual care and assistive learning tools. Beyond meeting practical needs, they say, the support has promoted greater participation and inclusion for people with disabilities, boosting their confidence and sense of belonging in school, at home and in their communities.  From financial support to systemic change With financing from the Government of Lebanon, the European Union, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and other donors, the National Disability Allowance is implemented by the Ministry of Social Affairs in partnership with UNICEF and ILO.Since its launch in April 2023, the National Disability Allowance has reached more than 33,500 persons with disabilities across Lebanon, enabling them to cover essential needs and secure their right to inclusion and dignity. The NDA represents a broader shift toward inclusive social protection, reducing stigma, strengthening the social contract, and ensuring no one is left behind. This initiative, implemented by MoSA in partnership with UNICEF and ILO, would not have been possible without the generous support of its donors, including the European Union and the Kingdom of the Netherlands—two of Lebanon’s top donors. Since 2016, the Netherlands has provided more than USD 448 million to strengthen livelihoods, civic engagement, and life-saving assistance, while the EU has contributed over USD 2.5 billion to ensure access to essential services that helped improve livelihoods, enhanced protection, support elections, and champion joint UN programmes on cash assistance, social protection, and conflict-impact mitigation. Further details on international assistance to Lebanon are available in the Lebanon Aid Tracking reports: https://lebanon.un.org/sites/default/files/2025-11/2025%20Q3%20Lebanon%20Aid%20Tracking%20report%20%28as%20of%2030%20September%202025%29_0.pdf Goals Supported: dignity and equality; access to education, health, and participation; stronger national social protection. 

The recent conflict in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah, which further escalated significantly in late 2024, has left a trail of devastation. Thousands have lost their lives, countless areas have been reduced to rubble, and critical infrastructure has been shattered. At the height of the crisis, about 1.3 million people were internally displaced. The sheer scale of destruction has resulted in millions of tons of debris, posing both immediate hazards and long-term recovery challenges. Amid this destruction, the United Nations has mobilized a ‘UN Debris Taskforce’, to coordinate a sustainable and human rights-based approach to debris management. The Task Force aims to ensure a safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible recovery while safeguarding affected communities’ rights to housing, health, and a safe environment. War Debris: An Opportunity for Lebanon’s Recovery The unprecedented destruction has transformed once-thriving neighborhoods into hazardous zones. Families returning to their homes face significant risks from unexploded ordnance (UXOs), environmental contaminants, and structurally compromised buildings. Additionally, schools and some of Lebanon’s cultural heritage sites now lie in ruins.  Structural collapses and the mixing of domestic waste with debris have exacerbated health and environmental hazards, creating an urgent need for intervention.“The environmental and safety challenges are immense,” said Mrs. Jihan Seoud, an expert from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with extensive experience in debris management. “But with the right strategies and collaboration, we can turn this crisis into an opportunity for sustainable recovery.”A structured approach to debris management prioritizes recycling and reuse, reducing the demand for new construction materials while promoting a circular economy. This also creates socio-economic opportunities, enabling communities to participate actively in rebuilding efforts.Mr. Hassan Dbouk, Mayor of Tyre and Head of the Tyre Union of Municipalities, highlighted the importance of swift action. “Proper damage assessment is essential to map and categorize targeted buildings, estimate the volume of debris, and create a transport plan to ensure smooth collection and disposal.” He stressed that recycling materials like steel and aluminum must be prioritized to reduce reliance on raw resources and promote sustainability.Dbouk’s insight underscores the need to prioritize debris management as a cornerstone of recovery efforts. For Lebanon’s recovery to be effective, the government must play a central role in leading and coordinating debris management efforts, working alongside municipalities, international organizations, and affected communities. This includes defining ownership of debris, streamlining legal procedures, and identifying processing and disposal sites. Engaging local communities and returnees in rebuilding efforts ensures a more inclusive and impactful recovery process. Public awareness campaigns are critical, not only to prevent accidents involving unexploded ordnance (UXOs), hazardous materials, or structural building cracks, but also to engage and empower citizens in the recovery process. To address these risks, the UN partnered with the Lebanese Armed Forces to launch an awareness campaign on the dangers of UXOs. Additionally, it collaborated with the Ministry of Culture to launch a campaign aimed at preserving and protecting debris in heritage sites.Furthermore, by assessing debris for recyclables and hazardous content, and encouraging the reuse of materials in rehabilitation and reconstruction, Lebanon can reduce its reliance on new resources while addressing environmental threats. Accordingly, the UN, through its specialized agencies, has stepped in by undertaking a ‘Rapid Impact Assessment’ grounded in local voices, providing data from 135 areas in the post-war period across health, education, business and more, and calling for immediate action toward a people-centered recovery in the affected areas. It also conducted remote building damage assessments in the South, Nabatiyeh, Bekaa, and Baalbek-Hermel governorates and the southern suburbs of Beirut (spanning parts of the Beirut and Mount Lebanon governorates), covering 15 districts.    Picking up the Pieces: The challenging return of citizens    In the city of Nabatiyeh, the return of displaced residents is both hopeful and challenging. Streets once filled with bustling life now stand in ruins, and families returning home must navigate the overwhelming task of rebuilding from the rubble. It was a painful homecoming, marked by loss but also by a strong determination to start again, to rebuild, to simply survive.“After we entered our destroyed building to collect a few belongings, we gathered old family pictures that were still intact,” shared a displaced resident returning to his city Nabatiyeh. “We couldn’t afford to clear the rubble ourselves, so we asked a local contractor to remove the debris in exchange for salvaging any steel and recyclables.”This approach, while practical to avoid high costs of removal and transportation fees, often means that valuable materials for reconstruction are lost, and unregulated removal can create additional environmental and safety risks. Ensuring a structured, government-led debris management strategy is essential to prevent these hazards.  The UN Debris Taskforce: Initiating a Joint Sustainable Framework  At the core of UN Lebanon’s post-conflict efforts is the UN Debris Taskforce (DTF), which has developed a comprehensive framework to guide debris management in the aftermath of the conflict. The DTF is composed of ten UN entities (UN-Habitat, UNEP, UNDP, ILO, OCHA, UNMAS, UNESCO, IOM, FAO, and UNOPS) working collaboratively to ensure that debris removal is safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible while ensuring that affected populations actively participate in the recovery process.“Our goal is not just to help clear debris in the most effective ways, but to do so in a way that safeguards the environment and public health,” explained Imran Riza, the UN Resident Coordinator in Lebanon. “We are committed to promoting sustainable and environmentally friendly practices that support long-term recovery and resilience.”   Elie Mansour, an UN-Habitat expert, underscored the importance of health and safety in such initiative. “Effective debris management begins with inspecting the debris for unexploded ordnance or other contaminants,” he said. “If sorting or recycling can’t occur on-site, debris should be safely transported to designated processing locations. Recycling must be prioritized to recover materials for reconstruction.”The Task Force is also leveraging international methodologies to estimate debris volume, enabling effective planning for removal, recycling and disposal in environmentally approved sites, such as abandoned quarries, to prevent further degradation of Lebanon’s landscapes. Partnerships for Recovery A successful recovery depends on collaboration between multiple stakeholders, which the UN is working closely with the Government, including the Ministries of Environment, Public Works, Health, and Culture, along with local municipalities and unions, are the main actors in shaping and implementing a sustainable debris management strategy.The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and the Lebanese Mine Action Center (LMAC) also play a crucial role in risk assessments and UXO clearance, working closely with municipalities to address the dangers posed by explosive remnants of war. Additionally, academic institutions provide the technical expertise in debris quantification and management.Meanwhile, the private sector, particularly the Association of Lebanese Industrialists, also plays a pivotal role. Through public-private partnerships, they are introducing innovative recycling technologies and sustainable practices that create jobs and reduce waste.“We see this as an opportunity to build back better and greener,” said a spokesperson from the Association of Lebanese Industrialists. “Our circular economy initiatives can transform debris into reusable construction materials, fostering economic growth and reducing pollution.”Ensuring fair wages, safe working conditions, and social protections for debris removal workers remains a key priority for the UN. These principles remain central to the UN’s advocacy efforts with the Government and other partners, reinforcing a recovery process built on fairness, safety, and dignity.   A Vision for Lebanon’s Future: A Rights-based and Sustainable RecoveryLebanon’s path to recovery is long, but with coordinated efforts from the government, UN, local stakeholders, and international partners, a sustainable future is within reach. By prioritizing sustainable debris management practices, cultural and environmental preservation, and a human rights-based approach, Lebanon can build a stronger, more prosperous future. “This crisis has tested us all,” said Riza. “But it has also shown us the strength of collective action and the power of the coordinated efforts of the UN and its partners, especially the government.” As Lebanon takes its first steps toward recovery, the hope is that these efforts will not only restore what has been lost but also lay the foundation for a brighter, more sustainable future.    

“Dina was exceptional in every way—passionate about everything she did, and everything she did came from the heart. Her work with the United Nations was a mission to serve others.”This is how Mrs. Ghada Darwish described her daughter Dina—her colleague at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), who was killed during the Israel-Hezbollah war in 2024 in Lebanon.Dina Darwish worked with UNHCR for 12 years at the Bekaa office. She and her youngest son were killed when the residential building where she lived with her husband and two children was hit by an Israeli missile on September 23 of last year.In an interview with UN News, Mrs. Ghada Darwish said: “The greatest pain you can ever feel is losing your own child. No matter how much you try to adapt to the idea of loss, the pain remains immense.” It is difficult to sum up a child’s life in just a few minutes, but Mrs. Ghada tried her best to stay composed to speak about her own child, Dina. Despite being unable to hold back her tears, she insisted on talking because her ultimate goal is “not to forget Dina—she wants her to remain close to hearts, minds, and memories.”“Dina was exceptional in every way, passionate about everything she did. Everything she did was from the heart, from her studies to university and her work. She never settled for half-measures—she was a true professional.”Mrs. Darwish said that Dina always wanted her voice to be heard in her work so she could change the world and help as many people as possible. Thanks to her specialization in social sciences, she worked against gender-based violence and protected children, especially during her tenure with UNHCR.Throughout her career, she helped many families, children, and women by relocating them to safer and more peaceful environments—away from the conflict, displacement, violence, and poverty they had endured.Mrs. Ghada Darwish also spoke about Dina’s friendships and her impact on the community. “In her work, she built strong friendships with many of her colleagues. She made everyone feel special and unique. But tragically, she fell victim to violence—violence she had no part in and no connection to. What happened was a great injustice.” The violence also claimed the life of Dina’s four-year-old son, Jad, who was described by his grandmother as “a special child whose smile never left his face. He was curious, full of life and energy. Everyone who knew Jad fell in love with him—his eyes sparkled, and he gave so much love and warmth.”Ghada continued the conversation, trying to explain how living in a conflict zone or war-torn area is incredibly difficult—especially for mothers who must protect and reassure their children while raising them with love for their homeland and instilling good values in their daily lives.“I always supported the idea that love for one’s country should be in our hearts. I always hoped for a better tomorrow and believed, as a woman and a mother, that I should instill that hope in my children so they could continue this journey, dream, and strive for a better future. I never imagined that we would reach this point in our country.”On International Women’s Day, Ghada’s message to women around the world—especially those who have lost loved ones in war—is one of solidarity, strength, and hope.“We must not despair; we must not stop. This loss should not halt our lives. We must be beacons of resilience. The world sees itself through us, and that’s why we must hold on to courage and keep fighting for our families.”She concluded her speech by saying: “Despite the pain we feel, we must transform this pain into love and struggle to stop wars around the world. To every woman out there: You are strong, you are important, you are the backbone of your family, and you are its pillar of support.”The two-month conflict in 2024 in Lebanon between Hezbollah and Israel resulted in the deaths of more than 4,000 people, with at least 16,600 others injured, and led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands amid widespread damage to infrastructure.  The interview was conducted by Mrs. Rana Sarkis, and the story was initially published in Arabic by UN News.