Since the **October 7 attacks** last year, over 250,000 Israelis have been displaced from their homes near Israel’s borders due to ongoing conflict. While many have returned home, tens of thousands remain in temporary housing. As tensions between **Hezbollah and Israel** continue to rise, residents of northern Israeli communities are uncertain when they will be able to return.
A recent survey conducted by Israeli nonprofits **121 Engine for Social Change** and **710 West**, in collaboration with the **Maagar Mochot research institution**, sheds light on the difficulties faced by evacuees from northern Israel. The survey revealed that 70% of evacuees are considering not returning to their homes, and 3% have already left their communities permanently.
One of the primary challenges for these displaced Israelis is employment. The survey found that 70% of evacuees are earning less than they did before being displaced, and nearly one-third are currently unemployed. Despite some employment assistance programs, more than 70% of evacuees reported receiving no help, and those who did said the support was insufficient. Overall, 58% of evacuees rated government assistance as “poor.”
**Tali Nir**, executive director of 121, emphasized the need for more robust state support to help evacuees reintegrate into the workforce, warning of the economic and mental health risks they face. **Hana Rado**, founder of the 710 initiative, echoed these concerns, describing the situation as not only a personal crisis but also a national economic issue.
Residents of northern Israel are worried about the long-term economic impact of the extended evacuation. **Raz Malka**, a resident of Kiryat Shmona now living in Herzliya, expressed optimism that economic activity would resume once people return home, though many evacuees are struggling to maintain hope after months of uncertainty.
For **Rachel Rachamim**, 32, who was displaced from Kiryat Shmona with her family, the most difficult part of being an evacuee is the lack of clarity about when they can return home. She and her family have been staying at the **Kibbutz Lavi Hotel** in the Lower Galilee since last October. Managing life as a displaced mother of five while studying to become a nurse has been challenging, especially with disrupted schooling for her children and the lack of routine.
Even in their temporary home, the war remains a constant presence. Rachamim explained that her children’s school was shut down due to increased Hezbollah strikes, and the lack of a shelter at the school has left the children without a safe place to continue their education.
The cramped living conditions in the hotel have also taken a toll on the family. Privacy is scarce, and the stress of living in such close quarters has affected everyone, including Rachamim’s mother-in-law, who has lost 20 kilograms due to the stress and unfamiliarity of hotel life.
Despite these hardships, Rachamim expressed gratitude to the hotel staff for their support. **Moshe Gold**, the hotel manager, said that the evacuees and staff have developed a close bond, with evacuees even helping around the hotel. However, the hotel is facing logistical and financial challenges from hosting so many people for such an extended period.
Gold noted that many evacuees are reluctant to return home until they feel safe, especially with the discovery of tunnels under their villages. The **Leonardo Plaza Hotel** in Haifa has also become a refuge for displaced residents, including **Tzipa Ziskind** and **Ofra Evron**, both 66, who have been staying there since the war began. While they try to remain positive, the uncertainty of when they can return home weighs heavily on them.
Evron, whose daughter is still in Kiryat Shmona, said that living in a hotel is far from ideal. The lack of a stable home environment and the distance from family members who didn’t evacuate have made life even more challenging. Despite the difficulties, both women remain hopeful, trusting in the Israeli army and looking forward to the day they can return home.
Even in Haifa, about 30 miles from the Lebanese border, the war’s presence is felt. Evron recounted a recent experience where rockets flew overhead while she was jogging on the beach. Despite the hardships, she remains hopeful for the future.
**Nathan Klabin contributed to this report.**
Source: jpost.com