Morning after an Israeli attack in Tyre, Lebanon. Credit: Nour

By Eliane Eid
JNOUB, Lebanon, Aug 15 2025 (IPS)

“Special, targeted operations in southern Lebanon,” a phrase that has echoed repeatedly over the past two years in Israeli Defence Force (IDF) statements. But behind these clinical military terms lies a human cost that statistics cannot capture.

The residents of southern Lebanon—mothers, fathers, children, and elders—are the ones who face the daily reality of displacement, loss, and uncertainty. Their homes become coordinates on military maps; their neighborhoods, theaters of “operations.” Yet their stories of endurance, grief, and quiet acts of resilience rarely reach beyond the headlines.

Through interviews with residents of “Jnoub,” we examine how communities are navigating displacement, processing communal loss, and finding ways to grieve while continuing to live. These are voices from a region too often reduced to geopolitical analysis, voices that reveal the profound human dimension of conflict.

“Ironically, my workplace is close to my old house’s rubble. I see it, as well as the zone where my pet died, on a daily basis. I haven’t grieved as I should… haven’t cried as much as I should have.

“I hate the sound of phone calls, especially the landlines and my father’s good old Blackberry phone, as they remind me of the time we received the threat and people were calling to warn us,” said Sarah Soueidan when asked about her daily routine after her home was destroyed.

Having both her residential house and her family’s house bombed by the Israeli Defence Forces, she and her family had to move repeatedly throughout the past two years. Her hometown, Yater, located in South Lebanon, was directly affected by the war, leaving nothing but old memories and rubble.

The night they had to flee their house in Southern Beirut, Sara and her family woke up to a series of calls while listening to the sounds of ‘warning shots’ on the streets. These shootings were made to help draw attention to residents who did not receive the warning to leave their houses and find shelter before the attack.

As it was only 10 am, they had to act fast, so she and her mother left the house first to see what was going on and then realized that their building would be hit. Sarah had to go back home to warn her father and siblings. Since there was not enough time, and her father needed assistance in movement, they had to pick him up and leave the house with as few objects as possible.

They made sure to put Halloum (Sarah’s cat) in his cage, but due to the rush and many people in the house trying to help, Halloum got scared and jumped out of his cage. Sara and her siblings tried to look for him before leaving, but there was no more time; people were dragging them out of the house. On that day, Sarah took his toys and food, hoping to find him again, but she never did. The Israeli attack on Sarah’s house in Southern Beirut reduced it to rubble.

Sarah and her family had nowhere to go as their house in their hometown, Yater, was also bombed, and they had to leave the area until things settled down.

The interview took place a while after the attack, as Sarah was now ready to talk about what happened with her and her family, stating, “While I am not politically affiliated with anyone, nor would I discuss the reasons for escalation, as it is debatable, yet aggression and terrorism would always be so, without any reason. I was born and raised in these areas and streets. None of the allegations regarding ‘weapons, machinery, or drones under a three-story building’ are true. We need answers or proof.”

Halloum the cat, lying next to a Christmas tree. Credit: Sarah Soueidan

Many neighborhoods, streets, and buildings were targeted in the process; no one knew how or why, they only received images of their building with a warning that they needed to evacuate.

“The bomb was so close and I heard the sound of the missiles just before they reached the ground (and here you didn’t know if the missile would fall on you or no) and when I heard that, I ran toward my son and hugged him, then the missile exploded. This was repeated three or four times,” said Zaynab Yaghi, who is a resident in Ansar, a village in South Lebanon. Zaynab and her family had to leave South Lebanon under stress and fear of the unknown, all while trying to control the emotions of her son in order not to scare him even more.

Zaynab, like many others, had to live under stressful conditions, waiting for the unknown. Even after the ceasefire was agreed upon, residents in Southern Lebanon were still unable to go back home or live a normal life.

“Nearby buildings were struck after the ceasefire (one as far as 100m away from our own home). We were very surprised the first time it happened and scrambled to leave. It was very frightening,” said Mohammad Wehbe, who lost his home in Ainata and his apartment in the suburbs of Beirut, which was affected by the bombing of nearby buildings.

After talking to many people from different villages and areas in South Lebanon, there was one thing that made them feel a sense of hope, and that was community, traditions, and resistance. Resistance by choosing to go back, to have a future, present, and past within their grandparents’ land, and to grieve by holding on to what was left.

When asked, Nour described her village as a step back in time, a place of simplicity, serenity, and beauty. Nature all around and people who are warm and always have their doors open for strangers. Nour’s village, which is located within the Tyre district, was directly affected by the Israeli attacks. Her old neighborhood was completely demolished, and while the streets feel empty, she is trying to visit the area as much as possible to remember, to tell the story of those forgotten, and to belong to something greater than a title.

“The first time I went in winter, it felt strange: silence and destruction. But visit after visit, nature and the people of nature try to live again. That gives me hope. We’ll be fixing our home again. What matters is that we acknowledge this land is ours. And on our land, I can sense existence.”

While Nour gets her strength from people around her and her will to go back and build her home again, some have lost it completely, as it is not black or white; there is not a single way of grieving, existing, and living within times of chaos and displacement. “What beliefs I had before the war are long gone now. I don’t think I have processed what happened and I cope by ignoring everything and focusing on survival. Hope certainly feels like a big word these days,” Mohammad Wehbe said.

Compounding these challenges is the absence of government support. None of the interviewees have received any assistance from official channels, instead relying on their savings and help from family members to survive. This reality adds another layer of uncertainty to their daily struggles, as they navigate displacement and loss without institutional backing

These stories from Southern Lebanon reveal the complexity of human resilience in the face of displacement and loss. While some find strength in community and connection to their ancestral land, others struggle with the weight of survival itself. What remains constant is the need to bear witness to these experiences, to ensure that behind every military briefing and policy discussion, the human cost is neither forgotten nor reduced to mere statistics.

The residents of Jnoub continue to navigate an uncertain future, carrying with them the memories of what was lost and the fragile hope of what might be rebuilt. Their voices remind us that recovery is not just about reconstructing buildings but about healing communities and honoring the stories of those who endure.

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P.C. Chan from Hong Kong shares insights with Inter Press Service on China's climate commitments and progress at COP29. Crediit: Aishwarya Bajpai/IPS

By Aishwarya Bajpai
BAKU, Nov 23 2024 (IPS)

As COP29 draws to a close, voices from diverse regions have shed light on their contributions, challenges, and aspirations in tackling the climate crisis.

Among these voices is Pui Cheong Chan, CEO of Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency and a representative from Hong Kong, who shared his observations about China’s progress, its role as a global player, and the expectations from developed nations.

China’s Journey Toward Green Transition

PC Chan highlighted the significant strides China has made in combating climate change, particularly since the Paris Agreement. “There’s been a big, big achievement for China since the Paris Agreement—less than 10 years, and you could see the big steps and a lot of achievement from the Chinese government,” he noted.

This progress is rooted in the government’s commitment to renewable energy and low-carbon transitions across various sectors.

Chan described the China Pavilion at COP29 as a hub of innovation, showcasing achievements not just from Hong Kong but also from regions like Guangdong and Shenzhen.

“A lot of sharing, including our sessions, showcased the progress and achievements from the civilian sector, companies, and the government’s perspective,” he said.

Hong Kong, where Chan resides, has strongly committed to carbon neutrality. Initiatives include promoting sustainable fuel, offering subsidies for power plants to transition to cleaner energy sources, and shifting from traditional fossil fuels to lower-carbon alternatives like natural gas.

The Role of Developing Nations

While China and other developing countries have demonstrated significant progress, Chan noted a disparity in the pace of action between developed and developing nations. “Frankly speaking, I observed a lot of positive progress from developing countries, but developed countries seem to be taking a more reserved and conservative approach,” he observed.

He commended Middle Eastern countries for their innovative energy solutions and substantial investments in green technologies, emphasizing their proactive steps in contrast to some developed nations.

A Call for Global Carbon Markets

One of the highlights of COP29, according to Chan, was the progress made under Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement, which relates to global carbon markets. “This could be a good beginning to promoting a unified global carbon market,” he said. Chan believes such a framework would incentivize organizations and nations to reduce carbon emissions and foster collaboration across economies.

He also underscored the need for developed countries to contribute more—both financially and technologically. “A lot of these new initiatives require monetary resources for transformations. Developed countries have advanced technologies that could bring significant societal change, but they often hesitate to share,” he remarked.

China’s Role as a Leader

China’s status as a developing country is often debated due to its massive economy and significant global influence. Chan acknowledged China’s challenges, particularly post-COVID, but expressed optimism about its potential. “China has a very strong economic foundation and can do more, not just through government policies but by mobilizing contributions from different sectors of society,” he said.

Chan emphasized the role of coastal regions like Guangdong and Shenzhen, which are well-developed and can spearhead green transitions. He advocated for incentivizing both state-owned enterprises and private businesses to contribute to climate goals.

A Message for Climate Negotiators

When asked about his message for COP29, Chan urged developed countries to take greater responsibility. “Developed nations should contribute more, both monetarily and through technology sharing. Climate action is for the common good; it’s not about individual countries but the world as a whole,” he stated.

Chan concluded by expressing pride in China’s efforts, highlighting its proactive approach and innovative solutions as a responsible global player. His reflections underscore the importance of collaboration, innovation, and shared responsibility in addressing the climate crisis—a sentiment echoed across COP29 discussions.

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A poster at the Delegation Pavilion at COP29 highlighting the urgency of fulfilling financial commitments to drive impactful climate actions. Picture Credit: Aishwarya Bajpai/IPS

By Aishwarya Bajpai
BAKU, Nov 22 2024 (IPS)

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) negotiations brought attention to the progress, challenges, and future strategies for enhancing its effectiveness in fostering a just and sustainable energy transition.

The draft negotiations acknowledged significant milestones achieved by the GCF.

With a total approved funding of USD 15.9 billion across 286 projects in 133 developing countries, the GCF continues to be a critical source of adaptation and mitigation financing.

Efforts to boost inclusivity have led to 139 entities being accredited, 89 of which are direct access entities. This demonstrates the GCF’s commitment to ensuring that resources are accessible to nations and organizations that need them most.

Additionally, the approval of 115 grants for readiness support, including national adaptation plans, underscores the Fund’s focus on bolstering countries’ capacity to plan and implement climate-resilient policies. These developments reflect the growing momentum to scale up finance for climate action.

One of the notable highlights of the draft negotiations was the emphasis on mobilizing private sector investments.

The GCF’s 2023 portfolio commitments saw a USD 2.1 billion growth, including USD 917.4 million allocated to 10 new private sector projects. These efforts have expanded the private sector portfolio to USD 5 billion, which has mobilized an additional USD 17.5 billion.

Innovative financial instruments, such as private equity, have proven effective in leveraging funds. For instance, every dollar invested by the GCF in certain mitigation sectors is expected to mobilize six times the committed capital.

Such strategies are pivotal in bridging the financing gap for developing countries, enabling them to transition to low-carbon pathways.

The negotiations also highlighted the need to ensure a geographically balanced distribution of GCF resources. Exploring regional presence in all developing country regions was a key recommendation.

This approach aims to enhance accessibility and foster stronger regional partnerships, particularly in underserved areas.

Furthermore, the Indigenous Peoples Advisory Group has played an instrumental role in enhancing engagement with Indigenous communities, ensuring their inclusion in GCF operations.

The Fund is also committed to supporting adaptation initiatives, with a focus on implementing national adaptation plans in alignment with its Strategic Plan for 2024–2027.

Despite the progress, challenges remain in streamlining access to funds and ensuring timely disbursements. The negotiations called for measures such as clear project approval timelines, transparent guidelines, and tailored support for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

Simplifying funding mechanisms and addressing capacity gaps are essential to make climate finance more equitable and impactful.

Another critical focus area was enhancing gender responsiveness. The draft emphasized updating the GCF’s Gender Action Plan and aligning it with the UNFCCC’s broader gender framework. Incorporating Indigenous knowledge and respecting their rights were also highlighted as priorities for the Fund’s decision-making processes.

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Remittances from migrants help address poverty and hunger, and now they are pushing forward the climate agenda. Credit: UNHCR

By Joyce Chimbi
BAKU, Nov 22 2024 (IPS)

COP29 delegates have elaborated on how Africa’s dependency on agriculture is becoming increasingly untenable amidst alarming levels of global warming, wrecking havoc on the sector. Coastal communities, pastoralists, and those in the drylands are in the thick of the climate chaos.

Options for sustainable livelihoods have shrunk. The search for greener pastures is such that nearly 1.2 million people will move beyond national boundaries in the African continent by 2050 due to climate change, and more than half of climate-related migrants in 2050 will come from Africa.

As negotiations for an acceptable new collective quantified goal on climate finance intensify, some observers, such as Hurbert Thomas, a Burkina Faso immigrant living in France, told IPS that the need to meet glaring climate adaptation gaps is “pushing for innovative solutions such as migrant remittances into the continent. When migrants support their families with cash, food, and other commodities, and even in relocation to less climate-risk areas, this helps move the climate agenda in the right direction.”

“COP29 side events have included the issue of early warning signs and how the impact of predicted climate events can be reduced or even avoided. But people in high-climate-risk areas cannot move even when cautioned to if they do not have resources. I have contributed to such planned relocations back home. Remittances help address poverty and hunger, and now they are pushing forward the climate agenda.”

Thomas is talking about how migrant remittances directly fund climate action, especially in meeting the funding gap for climate adaptation. Research shows that the global population of African migrants is more than 40.4 million and that 200 million family members rely on remittances. The money builds resilience and funds climate adaptation while addressing poverty and hunger for sustainable growth and development.

Further showing that remittance flows to Africa “reached nearly USD 100 billion in 2022, accounting for almost 6 percent of Africa’s gross domestic product. They exceeded official development assistance of USD3.5 billion and foreign direct investment of USD52 billion. Intra-African remittances were USD 19.4 billion.”

The World Bank shows that remittances to sub-Saharan Africa are rising even during the global challenges, increasing by 16.1 percent in 2021, 6.1 percent in 2022, 1.3 percent in 2023, and 3.7 percent in 2024. Delegates say that direct remittances reach the most vulnerable people and communities in high-risk areas in a more effective and efficient way compared to public expenditure.

“Public expenditure is up there and affected communities are down here, and there are many processes and bureaucracies in between. In between migrant remittances and local communities is only distance. Technology has now provided an avenue to instantly send money, including the revolutionary mobile money transfer,” he says.

“In seconds, you can move money across national borders and continents from the comfort of your seat to a person or families in local communities distressed by climate change or to even build their resilience by diversifying livelihoods. This is why direct remittances are much more efficient to move, and they reach the intended amount and value.”

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Greg Puley, Head of the Climate Team at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), at COP29. Credit: OCHA

By Umar Manzoor Shah
BAKU, Nov 22 2024 (IPS)

As climate-induced disasters continue to wreak havoc worldwide, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), a UN body specializing in emergency response, has issued a clarion call for an ambitious and fair global climate finance goal at COP29. Greg Puley, Head of the Climate Team at OCHA, highlighted the pressing need for enhanced disaster risk reduction and climate resilience measures, particularly in vulnerable and conflict-affected regions.

Speaking to IPS during COP29 at Baku, Puley stressed the dramatic rise in climate-related emergencies, which have escalated the burden on global humanitarian systems. “This year alone, we witnessed devastating floods in the Sahel, extreme heatwaves in Asia and Latin America, and drought in Southern Africa,” Puley said. He also pointed out the earliest recorded Category 5 storm in the Caribbean, stating that climate disasters are becoming increasingly severe and frequent.

OCHA has made an appeal for USD 49 billion in international humanitarian aid this year amid the growing scale of the crisis. However, funding has not kept pace with rising needs. Puley lamented the slow progress in implementing climate finance commitments made at past COP summits, calling for urgent action to translate pledges into tangible benefits on the ground.

“While there have been initiatives like the Secretary General’s Early Warnings for All, which aims to provide global early warning coverage by 2027, these efforts are underfunded,” Puley said. He said that conflict-affected areas receive minimal climate finance, leaving the most vulnerable populations behind. “These are the people least responsible for the climate crisis, yet they bear the brunt of its impacts,” he said.

Priorities for COP29

With COP29 concluding, Puley said without robust financial support for developing countries, achieving urgent reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and meeting the 1.5-degree Celsius target would be impossible. He warned that surpassing this threshold would exacerbate climate-induced disasters, further straining humanitarian systems. “

Also, increased investments in climate adaptation and resilience are crucial, particularly for disaster-prone regions. Puley argued that without these measures, progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) would be derailed as communities repeatedly face setbacks from extreme weather events,” he said.

According to him, there is a need to correct the imbalance in climate finance allocation. He called for targeted investments in areas with high humanitarian needs to build resilience against climate shocks.

While Puley expressed optimism about COP29 delivering on climate finance goals, he acknowledged the challenges ahead. “We have high hopes, but it’s clear that much more needs to be done to ensure that the world’s most vulnerable populations are not left behind,” he said.

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Delegates representing Indigenous communities urge negotiators to include language that promotes human and environmental rights. Credit: Joyce Chimbi/IPS

By Joyce Chimbi
BAKU, Nov 19 2024 (IPS)

Delegates representing Indigenous people’s rights have taken issue with the ongoing COP29 negotiations, calling for Parties to include text and language that promote Indigenous rights to be explicitly referenced in the consensus and outcome documents.

Faced by multiple, complex challenges, they want legal, socio-political and economic barriers removed to enable Indigenous communities to lead meaningful lives with all the tools necessary to address the climate change crises. They especially want respect and promotion of their human rights and rights to land and natural resources to which they have been connected for millennia.

Prince Israel Orekha from Connected Advocacy for Empowerment and Youth Development during the interview. Credit: Joyce Chimbi/IPS

“I’m from the Indigenous community of the Niger Delta and climate change is a reality for us. We are seeing the extinction of our local foods and agricultural and medicinal products and a dangerous rise in the sea level. We are losing our ancestral lands and resources and this means us losing our lifeline,” Prince Israel Orekha from Connected Advocacy for Empowerment and Youth Development during the interview told IPS.

“In my community, we are predominantly farmers, but dependence on fossil fuels in the Global North has negatively affected our farmlands and season after season, we are losing more and more farm yields. Our days are filled with worries and our life expectancy has reduced to 42 percent. We need an outcome that will give us a fresh start and an environment from which to draw clean breath and meaningful livelihoods. Let us breathe.”

Orekha said Indigenous people from the Global South are in a more disadvantaged position and too disenfranchised to mount an effective war against climate change. Stressing the need for localization of climate action so that all people everywhere can significantly contribute to and push forward effective climate action. 

“Today, we are here to speak in one voice and say that Indigenous people should be included in all meaningful ways. And part of that is to ensure that people and places where Indigenous people represent them must also feature prominently in those economies and in all aspects of life. So, we should not be sidelined and the wisdom that we have with us, passed down through generations, could make a difference in designing workable climate solutions and yet, we have been left out of decision-making tables,” he said.

Stressing that the marginalization of Indigenous people “is astounding and counterproductive, especially because we are the frontline communities. We bear the brunt of climate change. Policies and programs must be inclusive and promote equity and justice. We remain excluded but hopeful that, at last the spell will be broken, and there will be something substantive for us at COP29 Baku.”
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