Citizens affected by Israeli strike on Beirut's Southern suburbs receive compensation for material damage. (Credit: NNA)
BEIRUT — The head of the Higher Relief Committee, Mohammad Kheir, supervised on Tuesday the "handing over of checks to citizens in exchange for housing units affected by the Israeli airstrike that targeted a building in the Southern Suburbs of Beirut more than a month ago, according to the state-run National News Agency.
On July 30, an Israeli airstrike targeted a building in the area of Haret Hreik in the Southern suburbs of Beirut killing Hezbollah commander Fouad Shukur and civilians and injuring dozens.
In the presence of Haret Hreik Mayor Ziad Waked and his deputy Ahmad Hatoum, Kheir met with the affected citizens and assured them that the caretaker government headed by Najib Mikati and the High Relief Commission stand by their side in these "exceptional and difficult circumstances.”
"What the Commission provides is a material compensation that does not amount to the sacrifices made by the people but supports them and compensates for the material damages to rebuild their damaged homes," Kheir added.
Over the past few months, there has been a debate over the compensation of residents of southern Lebanon hit hard by clashes between Hezbollah and the Israeli army. In May, the Lebanese government allocated LL 93 billion (roughly $1 million) to the families of 52 people who paid the price of war with their lives, including 49 Hezbollah members and three civilians.