Lebanese residents begin returning home after ceasefire deal

Tens of thousands of Lebanese are heading back to their homes in southern Lebanon after a fragile ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel came into effect on Wednesday.

More than 1.3 million people were displaced when the fighting escalated in September. With the ceasefire now in place, many residents have begun their journey home, traveling along the international highway with personal belongings and mixed emotions following months of intense conflict between Israel and Hezbollah and widespread destruction in southern and border villages.

"We are returning to our land, and thank God for the victory. We couldn't bear to leave this bird alone, so we took him with us -- and if he survived, that's good, and if not, that's his fate -- and he returned with us to his home. He wasn't singing in our place of displacement, but when we arrived here, he started singing again," said a returnee holding a cage with a canary in her lap.

"I'm riding from Beirut to Houmeen on a motorcycle. I don't want to get stuck in traffic," said another returnee, emphasizing his desire to get back home as quickly as possible.

"I feel very happy, but I am also sad. I wish Sayyed Hassan (Nasrallah) could come back to raise the banner of victory," said another returnee.

The Lebanese Minister of Interior held a news conference in Beirut to discuss the return of the displaced, reconstruction efforts, and the implementation of UN Resolution 1701, which aims to end hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel.

"The great challenge is preserving the Lebanese areas and completing the return and reconstruction process without encroaching on public or private properties. Implementing laws is the cornerstone and essential for building a state. We have always stressed that implementing Resolution 1701 is necessary and that Lebanon's commitment to its legitimacy and all forms of legitimacy necessary to build a state is crucial," said Bassam Mawlawi, the interior minister.

The Lebanese Army reported on social media that the Israeli military violated the ceasefire agreement multiple times on Wednesday and Thursday by targeting Lebanese territories with various weapons.

Earlier, the Lebanese Army announced plans to deploy thousands of troops alongside UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon to help ensure the ceasefire holds.

Lebanese residents begin returning home after ceasefire deal

The construction and development of rural roads and the rural transport system, which emphasizes inclusiveness and equity, provide strong support for the comprehensive development of China's rural economy and society, according to a white paper issued Friday by China's State Council Information Office.

In creating a path to prosperity for rural people, China has taken extraordinary steps and made an enormous effort to expedite the development of rural transport in poor areas, said the white paper titled "China's Rural Roads in the New Era."

Since 2014, more than 1.4 million kilometers of rural roads have been built or upgraded in previously poor areas, all towns, townships and administrative villages where conditions allow had been connected to paved roads by 2019, and all such villages had been connected to bus services by 2020, the white paper noted.

"The roads are better. After years of effort, we have established a rural transportation infrastructure network that connects villages and towns, as well as a rural transportation service system focused on inclusiveness and equity. Through this, rural residents can enjoy better transportation, and rural logistics can be more efficient," said Hou Zhenxing, deputy director of the general planning department of the Ministry of Transport.

According to the white paper, the steady development of transport facilities in rural areas has attracted more capital, projects and talents to the countryside, creating more job opportunities and broadening the avenues for income growth.

At present, rural road construction projects provide work for about 80,000 people in need as a form of relief, enabling an annual average per capita income increase of around 8,500 yuan (about 1,182.57 U.S. dollars), the white paper noted.

About 850,000 jobs are provided in rural road management and maintenance, offering an annual average per capita income of approximately 13,000 yuan, it said.

China builds inclusive rural transport service system: white paper