Minister of Social Affairs Hanin Sayed meeting a Qatari delegation on Tuesday at the ministry for the launch of an aid program. (Credit: NNA)
An aid program for the poorest families affected by the 13-month war between Hezbollah and the Israeli state was launched Tuesday by Qatar at the Ministry of Social Affairs in Lebanon. Funded by the Qatari Fund for Development and supported by the Qatari Red Crescent, this project is overseen by the emirate's ambassador to Lebanon, Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani.
“This project, which will benefit more than 3,000 Lebanese families in need through financial aid over three months, demonstrates Qatar's presence alongside Lebanon in all areas,” said the ambassador, who attended the program's launch.
The conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, from Oct. 8, 2023, to Nov. 27, 2024, affected a large part of the population, particularly in southern Lebanon, the Beqaa and the southern suburbs of Beirut. The country is also trying to recover from a severe economic crisis since 2019.
According to figures from the International Information Research Center, more than 48,000 homes were completely destroyed, 36,000 partially damaged, and 140,000 sustained minor damage during this war.
A final report by the World Bank, published in March, estimated the cost of recovery and reconstruction at $11 billion in the “short and medium term.” The World Bank broke down this amount as follows: $8.4 billion in “immediate” needs for the period 2025-2027 and an additional $2.6 billion for the “medium term,” between 2028 and 2030.
The World Bank assessed the total cost of damages at $14 billion: $6.8 billion in the regions affected by Israeli bombings and economic losses amounting to $7.2 billion. These estimates cover the period from Oct. 8, 2023, marking the start of hostilities between the two sides, to Dec. 20, 2024.
After years of strained relations, Gulf countries are investing again in Lebanon since Hezbollah was weakened by the conflict with Israel. Elected on Jan. 9, President Joseph Aoun, along with the government formed by Nawaf Salam a month later, have both prioritized reestablishing diplomatic relations with the Gulf. Aoun visited Saudi Arabia and Qatar in recent months.
During a visit to the emirate in April, Aoun stated that he had asked Qatar "to increase its investments in Lebanon." Qatar has regularly positioned itself as a reliable partner for Lebanon, notably by becoming one of the main supporters of the Lebanese Army or by providing direct and rapid financial aid in times of crisis, such as after the explosion at the Beirut port on Aug. 4, 2020.