An elderly woman displaced in a school classroom converted into a shelter for people fleeing Israeli bombardments on the Baalbeck area, in the eastern Lebanese town of Deir al-Ahmar, on Nov. 1, 2024. (Credit: Noor Habchy/AFP)
BEIRUT — Hezbollah and the Amal Movement called a meeting with the Government Emergency Committee Tuesday afternoon to discuss "the needs of the displaced," the National News Agency reported. The meeting was attended by a large number of parliamentarians and ministers from the outgoing government and lasted for more than two hours, following which another parliamentary committee was established to follow up with the emergency committee led by the minister of environment, with another meeting called for Thursday.
According to Hezbollah MP Hussein Hajj Hassan, an "in depth" discussion focused the needs of the displaced, whether they are in shelters or not, and how public spending can be allocated as concerns deepen ahead of the winter season. The condition of Lebanon's healthcare system was also discussed, as were telecommunication issues. At least eight hospitals in Lebanon have been forced to completely shut down as a result of Israeli airstrikes.
"We need to complete the survey of displaced people outside the shelters within a week to ten days, in addition to the distribution of resources," said Amal Movement MP Ali Hassan Khalil. "The need is urgent and it is the responsibility of the State to provide financial resources to supply heating and bathrooms, in addition to food rations."
According to Khalil, a decree has been issued to allocate funds to cover the cost of heating and a mechanism through which to do so was prepared by the new committee. "This should not be delayed by any red tape or procedure, and this matter should be dealt with as quickly as possible," he urged.
"One of the points concerns the payment of municipal contributions and the granting of an advance to the host municipalities to cover the necessary needs," he added. The possibility of monthly financial aid paid directly to displaced persons was also tabled.
Health and education is expected to be addressed at the new committee's first meeting.
In mid-October, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimated that almost 700,000 people had been displaced within Lebanon, mainly in the South, since Sept. 23 with the expansion of the Israeli offensive into southern Lebanon, the Bekaa and the southern suburbs of Beirut. But according to the Lebanese authorities, there are now more than 1.4 million internally displaced persons in Lebanon.
