Contractors have commenced the restoration of a crucial road that leads to Lebanon's main border crossing with Syria following a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah. The Mansaa border crossing, situated on the Beirut-Damascus international highway in the Beqaa valley, served as the primary route for thousands of individuals seeking refuge in Syria during the conflict before it was severely damaged by Israeli shelling last month, making it impassable.
Over the past two months of escalated hostilities, more than half a million people have been displaced from Lebanon to Syria, as reported by United Nations agencies. The restoration of the road leading to the Mansaa border crossing is a significant step towards facilitating the movement of people and goods between the two countries.
The public works and transport minister of Lebanon was slated to inspect the progress of the road restoration works on Wednesday, as per the state-run news agency NNA. This development comes as a ray of hope for the affected populations who have been grappling with the consequences of the conflict.
It is worth noting that the Mansaa border crossing area has been a target in previous conflicts as well. In 2006, during the last major confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah, the crossing area was also struck. The restoration of this vital infrastructure not only symbolizes progress towards normalcy but also underscores the resilience of the communities affected by the conflict.
