Caretaker Minister of Transport and Public Works Ali Hamieh. (Credit: AFP Archival Photo)
Caretaker Minister of Transport and Public Works Ali Hamieh announced Friday the "finalization" of the funding mechanism for the "reconstruction of villages and homes" destroyed in the recent war between Israel and Hezbollah. He stated in a post on X that this issue should be "at the top" of the agenda for the first meeting of the new Council of Ministers, as Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam is reportedly making last-minute adjustments to his cabinet formation.
Speaking to L’Orient-Le Jour, the minister explained that this stage serves as a "handover point" for the next ministerial team, which will be responsible for assessing the damage in affected areas — both residential and non-residential — "using the same mechanism developed by his ministry to determine aid value."
He emphasized that Lebanon’s reconstruction is a "national issue", dismissing any "internal maneuvering" that could hinder progress. The reconstruction plan is built on three pillars, the first two of which have already been implemented by his ministry, while the third will be the responsibility of the new government.
The first pillar concerns the funds released following the Council of Ministers meeting on Dec. 7, shortly after the ceasefire took effect on Nov. 27. Credits were allocated to the South Council for 900 billion Lebanese pounds, to the Union of Municipalities of Beirut’s southern suburbs for the same amount, and to the High Relief Committee for 500 billion pounds to begin clearing the rubble in areas affected by the Israeli aggression.
The second pillar focuses on establishing a mechanism to assess damage to both residential and non-residential buildings and to determine the aid allocated to housing units. For the past two months, the government has been working with the World Bank on a $250 million infrastructure project. This process, conducted with "absolute transparency," aims to "strengthen trust with the international community."
The third pillar revisits the damage assessment in affected areas, whether residential or not, using the same mechanism employed by the ministry to determine the value of aid.
A colossal undertaking
When asked about the economic model for this reconstruction, the minister stated that it falls under the responsibility of the state and the international community, should the latter decide to participate. It is a colossal undertaking, given that the country has been mired in a severe economic and financial crisis for over five years, significantly limiting the state's room for maneuver — also under the close supervision of the Central Bank to maintain monetary stability — and that Israel must still withdraw all its troops by Feb. 18, after the cease-fire implementation period was extended by 22 days on Jan. 26.
According to a preliminary assessment by the World Bank, material damages are estimated at around $3.4 billion. Published nearly two weeks before the ceasefire, this figure could still be revised upward. According to the report of the National Council for Scientific Research, published on Dec. 23, 2024, Beirut’s southern suburbs alone suffered the total destruction of 353 buildings, in addition to 593 severely damaged structures (120 of which are expected to be completely demolished) and 5,417 others that sustained major, moderate, or minor damage.
