Prime Minister Nawaf Salam (R) meeting with a delegation from the village of Borgholieh (Sour district) on March 30, 2026. (Credit: Photo posted on X by the Grand Serail)
BEIRUT — Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Monday that “the fate of the Lebanese must not remain subject to calculations that go beyond the interests of Lebanon and its people,” as he received a delegation from the village of Borgholieh in the Sour district.
The delegation, led by Borgholieh's head of municipality, Mohammad Khodr al-Daoud, discussed conditions in the village. Salam praised their resilience and that of residents from other southern towns for refusing to leave their homes despite Israeli threats and warnings.
He said the state stands by residents of southern Lebanon and is working to ensure the delivery of aid. He added that the “resilience of these southern villages represents the resilience of all Lebanese” and stands against displacement plans and the creation of buffer zones.
On Monday, ministers met at the Grand Serail to review the overall situation, focusing on military and security developments and the needs of displaced people. After the meeting, Information Minister Paul Morcos said participants agreed that current aid levels fall far short of growing needs, according to the state-run National News Agency. He also said they warned of rising sectarian and inflammatory rhetoric, particularly on social media, as well as ongoing economic stagnation.
Morcos raised repeated attacks on journalists, two days after four were killed by an Israeli strike on their car in Jezzine. He said the Information Ministry is following up on the issue and that the government, along with the Foreign Ministry, must take action.
On fuel, participants said diesel would be delivered to its intended beneficiaries, with strict measures against fraud in distribution. Interior Minister Ahmad Hajjar outlined arrests related to diesel fraud and efforts to combat pickpocketing.
Social Development Minister Haneen Sayed said aid levels in the current war remain lower than in previous conflicts and stressed the need to boost international support to meet growing needs.
Israeli attacks on Lebanon have killed more than 1,240 people, wounded over 3,540 and displaced more than one million since March 2, according to official figures.
