Chaos, Confusion Obstruct Distribution of Compensation for Beirut Port Explosion Victims

A man works inside a school which was damaged due to the explosion at the port area, in Beirut. (Reuters)
A man works inside a school which was damaged due to the explosion at the port area, in Beirut. (Reuters)
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Chaos, Confusion Obstruct Distribution of Compensation for Beirut Port Explosion Victims

A man works inside a school which was damaged due to the explosion at the port area, in Beirut. (Reuters)
A man works inside a school which was damaged due to the explosion at the port area, in Beirut. (Reuters)

More than three months after the Beirut Port explosion, the affected residents in the surrounding areas are complaining that they have not received any compensation from the state to help them repair their houses.

While many resorted to charities and NGOs offering assistance, others starting fixing their homes at their own expense ahead of winter.

The Lebanese army has recently began distributing compensation from the state, within a specific framework, said Brigadier General Sami Howayek from the Joint Operations for Disaster Recovery Command Center.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Howayek revealed that the army “started distributing financial compensation about a week ago, which will cover about 10,000 housing units, equivalent to approximately 17 percent of the number of damaged units.”

He explained that a survey of the affected areas determined the number of damaged units at 62,087 houses, 14,848 stores and 5,251 commercial companies, in addition to a number of educational institutions, places of worship, hotels, restaurants and others.

According to Howayek, the total value of compensation earmarked to those affected by the Aug. 4 explosion amounts to 100 billion Lebanese pounds (66 million dollars according to the official exchange rate, and a little more than a million at the parallel market rate).

The amount was transferred from the High Relief Commission to the Army Treasury, based on the decision of caretaker Prime Hassan Diab.

He added that army teams would conduct field visits to inspect the repair works.

Meanwhile, a number of citizens, whose houses were damaged by the explosion, are complaining about the large number of associations and agencies that visited them to assess the damage, without these associations returning to compensate for their losses.

“Some bodies, including international associations and organizations, recently started repairing a number of damaged homes and paying sums of money to the citizens,” Howayek said.

He emphasized that the army, through its constant contact with the associations, was seeking to “control their work as much as possible,” and was also asking citizens to “inform them of any suspected association to pursue it according to the laws in force, especially if it was not registered with the Ministry of Interior.”



Compensation Delays Leave Beirut Southern Suburbs’ Families in Ruined Homes

A man surveys the damage caused by Israeli airstrikes on the southern suburbs last week. (EPA)
A man surveys the damage caused by Israeli airstrikes on the southern suburbs last week. (EPA)
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Compensation Delays Leave Beirut Southern Suburbs’ Families in Ruined Homes

A man surveys the damage caused by Israeli airstrikes on the southern suburbs last week. (EPA)
A man surveys the damage caused by Israeli airstrikes on the southern suburbs last week. (EPA)

In Beirut’s southern suburbs, amid buildings scarred by war, residents continue to suffer from severe damage to their homes caused by the recent conflict.

In the Mrayjeh and Saint Therese neighborhoods, locals face a harsh reality of ruined houses, stalled compensation, and unfulfilled promises, while reconstruction projects remain frozen amid deep uncertainty.

In Mrayjeh, where the destruction still marks the walls of homes, Ali, a resident, told Asharq Al-Awsat about the near-total damage to his house.

He said: “After my home was almost completely destroyed, we were told there was an urgent reconstruction plan and that compensation would be paid within a few months. But the reality is completely different.”

“All we actually received was four months’ worth of shelter allowance starting in January, totaling no more than $2,000. After that, all aid stopped, and we have not received any financial support to repair the damage,” added Ali.

On the scale of his losses, Ali said: “My home is no longer habitable. It was completely damaged—from the walls to the floors, from water and electricity networks to furniture that was entirely ruined. I barely managed to salvage anything.”

“Yet, I have received no compensation for the losses. Since the damage occurred, I have been covering all costs out of my own pocket. So far, I’ve spent more than $10,000, and I’m still at the beginning of the road. In my estimation, I need at least another $30,000 to restore the house to a livable condition.”

But the biggest shock came in recent weeks, when they were officially informed that restoration work in the building was halted “until further notice.”

Ali explained that the entity responsible for the repairs, appointed by Hezbollah, told them bluntly: “Funding has stopped, so no work can continue. All they managed to do was reinforce a support wall on the ground floor, then they stopped and left as if nothing happened.”

The building is now at risk of total collapse, with many families either displaced or living in inhumane conditions.

Regarding their appeals to the authorities, Ali said: “All our inquiries receive the same response: ‘There is no funding currently, please wait.’”