In the streets of Beirut's southern suburbs, on the morning of Oct. 6, 2024. Illustration photo Mohammad Yassine/OLJ
The new minister of Public Works and Transport, Fayez Rasamny, met Monday at the ministry with a World Bank delegation led by Alex Madeline for an initial meeting following the formation of Nawaf Salam’s government on Feb. 8.
Discussions focused on ongoing projects, including a $250 million emergency aid loan that the organization plans to grant Lebanon for "reconstruction, debris removal, and infrastructure rehabilitation."
"We have agreed on the main pillars of the emergency aid project, discussed the technical and legal criteria, and were briefed on the outcomes of the World Bank’s meetings with stakeholders, as well as the resulting recommendations and plans," Rasamny said. The content of the World Bank’s ongoing Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment report was also discussed.
The conflict has killed more than 4,000 people in Lebanon since Oct. 8, 2023, and caused at least $8.5 billion in damages and economic losses, according to a preliminary World Bank estimate published last November.
On the eve of the government's formation, former Public Works Minister Ali Hamieh announced the "finalization" of the funding mechanism for "rebuilding villages and homes" destroyed in the war, adding that this issue should be "at the top" of the agenda for the new Cabinet’s first meeting.
