Statement by Jan Egeland, the Norwegian Refugee Council's (NRC) Secretary General on the announced ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon:

Press release

Published 17. Apr 2026

"After 46 days of horrific violence, the ceasefire in Lebanon is a moment of hope for civilians across the country. The ceasefire offers people a chance to breathe and to end a conflict that has killed more than 2,000 people and injured many thousands. More than one million people have been displaced.

"Across the country, roads are already congested with hopeful families trying to return to their homes. That alone shows how deeply people want this war to end. All parties must now commit to a permanent ceasefire.

"This fragile truce must not be undermined. We cannot afford a repeat of the ineffective 2024 ceasefire, which saw countless violations. Worryingly, there are already reports of violations by the Israeli army, which also issued a warning against civilians returning to their homes south of the Litani river, home to hundreds of thousands of people. Civilians need more than a temporary reduction in violence while obstacles to return remain in place.

"For this ceasefire to be meaningful for civilians, it must lead to a real and durable halt in hostilities. It must ensure the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, and clear conditions for safe return. It must come with increased international support for humanitarian aid. People must not be prevented from returning to their homes, whether through continued military presence, renewed violations, or destruction that renders areas uninhabitable.

"The people of Lebanon do not need another fragile pause. They need a permanent ceasefire."

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Source: Reliefweb