Minister of Social Affairs, Haneen Sayyed. (Photo provided to L'Orient-Le Jour in April 2025 by her ministry)
Minister of Social Affairs Haneen Sayed on Monday published a numerical assessment of her ministry’s assistance provided during 2025, touting a “daily commitment to citizens,” in a post on her X account.
In addition to the “400,000” Syrian refugees and migrants who have returned to their homeland from Lebanon, the former World Bank (WB) Middle East social protection expert highlighted figures which she said reflect the “impact of social action on the ground” in Lebanon.
She noted that her ministry supports “800,000 Lebanese per month on food security, via the Aman program,” aimed at Lebanon’s most vulnerable families, as well as 31,271 people through the national disability allowance program (NDA).
Sayed announced in late August that this program will now be fully funded by the state budget.
Through institutions contracted with the ministry, she added, the ministry ensures care for 9,100 people with disabilities, 1,450 elderly people, and provides 23,000 children with social protection.
She further stated the ministry “provides more than 150,000 social services through 165 social development centers” across Lebanon, and has injected “over $255 million into the local economy through direct financial aid programs.”
Finally, she recalled her support for “more than 250,000 internally displaced people affected by the latest war” between Israel and Hezbollah.
With decades of experience in international development, the minister told L’Orient-Le Jour in April 2025 that she wants to transform social protection in Lebanon away from humanitarian aid and toward long-term economic empowerment.
“My share of the annual budget is $120 million, the smallest compared to other ministries,” she said.
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