In southern Lebanon’s Marjayoun district, olive farmers are struggling to recover after a year-long war between Hezbollah and Israel devastated their lands. Following the November 2024 ceasefire, Israeli forces bulldozed farmland and uprooted more than 56,000 olive trees to create a buffer zone along the border. Farmers like Khairallah Yaacoub and Hussein Daher face ongoing dangers from Israeli drones and shelling, making it perilous to access their groves. The United Nations reports over 270 Lebanese deaths since the ceasefire, while the FAO estimates $236 million in losses to the olive sector alone. Many farmers have lost livestock and equipment, and olive oil production has plummeted. The Lebanese government has promised compensation of up to $2,500 per farmer and plans to plant 200,000 olive seedlings, but affected communities say aid has been slow and insufficient. Without substantial support from both the government and international donors, farmers fear they will be forced to abandon centuries-old agricultural traditions vital to the region’s economy and identity.