A family of displaced persons in a reception center in Beirut, in November. (Credit: Mohammad Yassin/L'Orient Today)
Since the escalation of the war in Lebanon in September, the caretaker government has faced a daunting humanitarian task: supporting hundreds of thousands of displaced people in the country.With a budget covering approximately 18 percent of the needs, as reported by officials, and funds drawn from the 2024 budget, the state is struggling to address the shortfall with limited resources. It primarily relies on in-kind aid from countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Qatar. Iran is also contributing funds, however, these are channeled through its armed proxy, Hezbollah, which introduces security risks, particularly for the displaced themselves. Additionally, concerns about transparency loom large; without it, this monumental endeavor could devolve into a clientelist apparatus.To date, the challenge has been...
Since the escalation of the war in Lebanon in September, the caretaker government has faced a daunting humanitarian task: supporting hundreds of thousands of displaced people in the country.With a budget covering approximately 18 percent of the needs, as reported by officials, and funds drawn from the 2024 budget, the state is struggling to address the shortfall with limited resources. It primarily relies on in-kind aid from countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Qatar. Iran is also contributing funds, however, these are channeled through its armed proxy, Hezbollah, which introduces security risks, particularly for the displaced themselves. Additionally, concerns about transparency loom large; without it, this monumental endeavor could devolve into a clientelist apparatus.To date, the challenge has been...
