The Committee for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Whose Homes and Businesses Were Destroyed and the LUPD, have endorsed the demands of the “Gathering of Residents of Southern Border Towns” regarding the withdrawal of the Israeli enemy, the return of prisoners, support for the right of displaced people to return to their towns and villages, extending state authority over them, backing the displaced, and speeding up reconstruction.

They both also answered the Gathering’s call to join a protest organized at Gibran Khalil Gibran Garden, in front of the ESCWA building in downtown Beirut, on the morning of Tuesday, September 22, 2026. LUPD members turned out for the protest in the dozens from the South, the Bekaa, and Beirut, alongside members of the Gathering, activists from civil and community groups, and interested individuals.

Activist Tarek Mazraani delivered the speech at the protest, focusing on the Gathering’s demands regarding the withdrawal of the Israeli enemy from occupied lands in South Lebanon, the return of prisoners, and the need to support the right of displaced people to return to their towns and villages. He called for extending state authority in the South without “pilot zones”. He also called for supporting the displaced and speeding up reconstruction. And he demanded that September 22 be established as an annual international day to shed light on the destruction of civilians’ homes.

On her part, LUPD President Sylvana Lakkis focused on speeding up the reconstruction of destroyed homes and the repair of damaged ones, urgently securing suitable shelter compensation for everyone whose homes were destroyed, and involving representatives of those whose homes and livelihoods were destroyed in the committees handling reconstruction, damage assessment, and setting priorities.

At the end of the protest, activists handed over a memo of demands to the ESCWA representative.