Social affairs minister says World Bank has conditions before it will fund ration card program

BEIRUT — Social Affairs Minister Hector Hajjar said Monday that the World Bank demanded three conditions before agreeing to fund a ration card program meant to assist vulnerable families in Lebanon.

Here’s what we know:

    • In a statement, Hajjar said that after a discussion with World Bank Regional Director Saroj Jha told him that three demands have been made before the bank will agree to fund the ration card program, including applying the Emergency Social Safety Net program for the poorest families in Lebanon“with seriousness and transparency, and beginning of the paying process to the families that are registered in the program and the contribution of the Lebanese government in the funding of the assistance program.”

    • Hajjar also said that the second part of the demand was implemented as “the government has given social assistance to public sector employees.”

    • “The minister pledged to follow up with the government to implement the third demand which is related to reform and a government rescue plan,” Hajjar’s statement added.

    • The ESSN program’s funding was approved by the World Bank in January 2021. In his statement Hajjar said that the disbursement of payments to be paid to people registered “within a few days.”