The Minister of Social Affairs, Hanine al-Sayyed (center), addressing representatives of international organizations and embassies to present the government’s post-war plan, on Saturday, August 1, 2026, at the Grand Serail. (Credit: NNA)
Shifting from emergency response and the priority of return to a phase of sustainable recovery is the goal of a government postwar plan presented Saturday by Social Affairs Minister Hanine Sayed at the Grand Serail, in the presence of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and international representatives, including ambassadors, cooperation agencies, U.N. agencies and development partners.
The plan was developed by the Salam government under Sayyed’s supervision. She said it represents a unified government vision for the postwar period.
’’It links the return of displaced people, humanitarian assistance, social protection, rapid recovery, the restoration of essential services and preparation for reconstruction around clear priorities led by the Lebanese state,’’ she said.
The conflict between Hezbollah and Israel resumed on March 2 after the Iran-backed group opened a support front for Tehran. Since then, dozens of Lebanese towns have been occupied by Israel, large parts of southern Lebanon have been devastated, more than 1 million people have been displaced, more than 450 people have been killed and about 12,000 have been wounded. The war, launched less than three years after Hezbollah opened a first front against Israel in October 2023, has left Lebanon exhausted, with reconstruction costs estimated in the billions of dollars.
Sayyed said the government plan recognizes that moving from emergency response to recovery requires unified initiatives and a strong partnership with the international community. She said the priority is to ensure the safe return of residents to southern Lebanon, restore living conditions and essential services, protect the most vulnerable and lay the groundwork for reconstruction.
According to the state-run National News Agency, the meeting included discussions with international partners on priorities for the next phase and mechanisms to support implementation of the national framework ‘’to ensure a coordinated and effective response to the needs of affected areas.’’
