White Phosphorus, Displacement and the Precarity of Return to South Lebanon
Dr. Yasmine Fakhry, Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Migration Studies and Institute for Social Justice and Conflict Resolution, Lebanese American University
Background and Introduction
The renewed conflict between Lebanon and Israel in October 2023, coinciding with the war in Gaza, marked a significant escalation of the preexisting tensions in the Middle East. Following attacks and cross-border operations, the conflict resulted in widespread displacement and casualties in Lebanon. Among the weapons used, white phosphorus (WP) munitions have raised serious concerns due to their devastating environmental, health and economic consequences. The use of WP in conflict has significant implications for human populations, including livelihood disruption and displacement.
Understanding this complex relationship is critical for assessing the true cost of WP use on both short and long terms and developing mitigation strategies. Currently, limited scientific research exists regarding the short term and long-term impact of recent (2023-2024) WP use on displacement, livelihoods and food security in Lebanon.
White Phosphorus: Properties and Effects
WP is a highly reactive substance that ignites spontaneously in air, causing severe burns and respiratory damage. It is used militarily for various purposes, including illumination, smoke screens, and as an incendiary. Its incendiary properties can cause fatal injuries and ignite fires in civilian structures. Environmentally, WP reduces productivity, causes drought, ignites fires, and leaves toxic residues that can persist for years.
Documented Use of White Phosphorus in Lebanon
WP has been extensively employed in attacks on Lebanon throughout history. Human Rights Watch (2024) documented its use in at least 17 villages in South Lebanon. Additionally, the AUB Nature Conservation Center documented multiple occurrences of WP use, including incidents in 1982, 1993, 1996, 2006 and 2023, each resulting in casualties, displacement and widespread damage. While the legality of WP use is debated, its negative impacts on civilian health and livelihoods are undeniable. International humanitarian law prohibits the use of airburst WP over populated areas. While the Chemical Weapons Convention does not cover WP, its use as an incendiary weapon is addressed by Protocol III of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW), though this protocol has limitations. In light of this, it is important to note that Lebanon is a party to Protocol III, while Israel is not.
Impact on Agriculture and Food Security
The South of Lebanon is a vibrant agricultural region. However, the use of WP has devastated crops there, particularly olive groves. Recent conflicts have caused disruptions in harvests, with significant losses reported in olive oil production. Soil contamination from WP also poses long-term threats to agriculture and water sources, as it can lead to reduced soil fertility, increased erosion and potential health risks for people and animals. In addition, farmers have reported livestock deaths and illnesses due to WP exposure. A study by Karnib and Faraj in 2024 confirmed the presence of WP in soil samples from several affected villages. Overall, the destruction of agricultural land has been described as “ecocide” given the magnitude of damage that has disproportionately affected livelihoods in border villages, where agriculture is the primary income source. Such circumstances cause farmers to face significant financial losses due to crop damage and disrupted harvests.
The CNRS report states that “the widespread use of WP has intensified this devastation, causing both immediate and lasting environmental damage,” which extends to livestock, eroding farmers’ livelihoods and disrupting agriculture, thereby “threatening national food security.”
According to the World Bank report in 2024, the alleged use of white phosphorus in the South, while not independently verified by this assessment, “could lead to the contamination of crops, surface and ground water, potentially posing a long-term threat to health, agriculture and the environment, which would necessitate extensive remediation efforts.”
The ESCWA 2024 report, although it does not explicitly mention the impact of WP use, details the “destruction of approximately 1,200 hectares of both dense and low-density oak forests,” as well as the burning of olive groves. The report notes that “the severe harm inflicted upon olive groves will have enduring consequences on farmers, given that rebuilding and replanting will take significant amounts of time and resources.” This destruction, combined with safety concerns, has forced many farmers to abandon their land, threatening their livelihoods.
Socioeconomic Impacts and Displacement
Damage to crops, livestock, and bee populations has also been widely reported. Farmers have experienced noteworthy economic destitution due to losses in crops and the inability to access their land. Despite the danger, “What else can we do?” asked Bilal, a Syrian fieldworker, as he harvested lettuce. “Last week, there were big explosions and I fled, but I came back. I needed to work.” His return, despite the fear, highlights the desperation of agricultural workers in South Lebanon.
Nimr Atta, the owner of the farmland where Bilal works, added, “Usually, I employ up to 25 workers—but now, only a handful are left.” The impact, however, is clear: “I’ve lost two agricultural seasons. It’s an economic and social catastrophe. This loss forces displacement.”
A local resident expresses a deep connection, saying that he “could never leave, my feet are deeply rooted here.” Yet, because of the bombings, “I could not work. It has become dangerous to take my cattle out.” He now depends on his father’s pension, but “it is getting hard; food is scarce, and we have no electricity and not much water. My neighbor’s dog died of hunger last week.”
These testimonials serve to reveal the strong link between the use of munitions that contain white phosphorus and the displacement of agricultural workers, leading to a forced migration driven by fear and economic collapse.
The impact extends beyond direct burning, with contamination and fear of contamination affecting produce sales and consumption. Displacement, therefore, has forced families to prioritize basic needs like food and nutrition, leading to a decline in their overall economic situation.
Conclusion
This preliminary review underscores the devastating impact of WP use on South Lebanon, directly linking environmental degradation to the displacement of its inhabitants through crop destruction, livelihood loss and altered food consumption. The undeniable correlation between WP-induced environmental damage, resource scarcity and forced displacement demands immediate action. Hence, we should acknowledge the existence of a complex interplay of factors, including conflict, economic instability and the strain on already fragile infrastructure. This situation, compounded by preexisting vulnerabilities and the influx of displaced persons from South Lebanon, is a fertile platform for an intensified humanitarian crisis.
A forthcoming study will dig deeper into the complicated intersection of WP contamination and its direct consequences, specifically examining agricultural loss, food insecurity and how these impacts, dangerously amplified by climate change and Lebanon’s already precarious situation, fuel forced migration. This issue isn’t merely an environmental crisis; it is a humanitarian emergency. The study will also determine the potential for permanent displacement and the risk of future resource-driven conflicts, highlighting the profound and lasting destabilization caused by WP.
Given the alarming prevalence of WP use and the rapidly escalating crisis, this research is not just critical, it’s a matter of survival in view of the humanitarian crisis. It is crucial for informing urgent mitigation, initiating recovery efforts, and establishing a clear action plan for relevant stakeholders. Failure to act swiftly will perpetuate a cycle of displacement, exacerbate food insecurity, and ignite further conflict, leaving Lebanon’s vulnerable communities in a state of perpetual crisis. The urgent need for comprehensive examination and immediate action cannot be overstated.