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Morning Brief

World Bank loan delays, Judge Aoun asked to obey dismissal, students return to classrooms: Everything you need to know today

Here’s what happened yesterday and what to expect today, Wednesday, April 21

World Bank loan delays, Judge Aoun asked to obey dismissal, students return to classrooms: Everything you need to know today

Judge Ghada Aoun speaks to supporters after attempting to raid the wholesale money exchanging group Mecattaf's Awkar office in defiance of an order by Lebanon's top prosecutor that removed her from high-profile financial crime cases. (Credit: Marc Fayad)

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The slow pace of government compliance with the conditions for a $246 million World Bank loan could lead to a monthslong delay in distributing desperately needed cash assistance to vulnerable families. In a status update report made public on Tuesday, the World Bank said Lebanon has not yet submitted paperwork required to execute the loan, which is due in less than a month. World Bank Regional Director Saroj Kumar Jha said an extension of the deadline could be granted “on an exceptional basis,” provided the government can demonstrate progress. The status report also indicates that the government has not begun the four-to-six-week process of verifying the eligibility of prospective aid recipients, which could result in delays in distributing assistance. However, Assem Abi Ali, the Social Affairs Ministry’s representative in negotiations with the World Bank, told L’Orient Today that some 45,000 households have so far been verified, with 100,000 still to go. He blamed the sluggish progress on Parliament’s failure to approve the contracting of private companies to help ministry social workers with the process.

Judge Ghada Aoun appeared at a scheduled hearing before the Supreme Judicial Council to explain why she had refused to comply with her dismissal by Public Prosecutor Judge Ghassan Oueidat from cases involving financial crimes. In a statement issued after the meeting, the council called on Aoun to abide by Ouiedat’s decision, adding that it has referred the matter to the Judicial Inspection Authority. Supporters of Aoun from the Free Patriotic Movement gathered outside the Justice Palace ahead of and during the hearing. The dispute between Oueidat and Aoun is being seen as symptomatic of the judiciary’s politicization, with Aoun perceived as having close ties to President Michel Aoun while Oueidat is seen as aligned with Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri.

Rounding out a three-day trip to Qatar, Hassan Diab thanked Qatari officials for their “firm stance aiming at supporting Lebanon and its people, and preserving Lebanon’s security and stability,” while taking a swipe at the limited assistance offered by other Arab nations during Lebanon’s ongoing crisis. The caretaker premier said he had discussed with Qatari officials the “consequences of the absence of Arab solidarity on the Lebanese crisis,” given that “the region is undergoing a painful situation that requires the highest degree of coordination among brothers.”

Journalists, education sector workers and residents aged 55–64 with no comorbidities are now eligible to receive the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, a representative of the Impact platform told L’Orient Today. Meanwhile, officials attempted to reassure the public about the vaccine, after a significant number of patients scheduled for inoculations did not show up to their appointments, largely due to concerns about blood clots — a rare side effect of the AstraZeneca shots. Parliamentary health committee head MP Assem Araji (Future/Zahle) told VDL radio (100.3) on Tuesday that no AstraZeneca-related complications have been reported in Lebanon and that the country is following World Health Organization recommendations in its vaccine rollout.

Schools are expected to gradually return to in-person classes, starting today. Outgoing Education Minister Tarek Majzoub announced last week that blended learning would restart on April 21 for high-school students preparing for the July 26 baccalaureate exam, which they must pass to get their diploma. However, the union representing public secondary school teachers has said that its members will not return to classrooms until all the teachers of baccalaureate students are vaccinated against COVID-19. It is unclear whether teachers will follow through with the boycott.

Want to get the Morning Brief by email? Click here to sign up.The slow pace of government compliance with the conditions for a $246 million World Bank loan could lead to a monthslong delay in distributing desperately needed cash assistance to vulnerable families. In a status update report made public on Tuesday, the World Bank said Lebanon has not yet submitted paperwork required to execute the...