Beirut: A total of $360 million has been secured to help rebuild areas of southern Lebanon damaged during Israel's latest war, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced Saturday. Salam made the announcement during a visit to southern Lebanon, stating on US social media company X that the government will launch reconstruction projects after securing the necessary funding.
According to Anadolu Agency, the financing includes $250 million in concessional loans from the World Bank, 75 million pounds from the French Development Agency, and 35 million pounds in grants provided by the EU, France, and Denmark. Lebanon's government has previously estimated the cost of reconstruction from the latest Israeli offensive to be no less than $5 billion, a figure cited by former Prime Minister Najib Mikati during the 11th summit of the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation in Cairo in December 2024.
Salam outlined that the government is working on three parallel tracks: preserving the dignity of displaced people, supporting those returning home, and ensuring better living conditions for all. Although there is no official figure for the number of people displaced from southern Lebanon by the war, local estimates suggest that the number is in the thousands.
The government is pursuing three integrated paths: continuing relief efforts, rebuilding damaged areas, and creating conditions for economic and social recovery, Salam noted. During his visit, Salam emphasized the Lebanese government's commitment to the southern region, stating, "The right of the people of the south to security, to a home, to land, and to a dignified life is an indivisible national right." He also criticized ongoing Israeli attacks as an assault on Lebanon's sovereignty and civilian lives.
Salam highlighted that restoring state authority involves more than just deploying the army and recognizing the military's role. Sovereignty, he asserted, also entails responsibility for people and their needs. He mentioned plans for a follow-up visit to oversee the implementation of reconstruction projects, although he did not specify a date.
A ceasefire deal in 2024 between Lebanon and Israel ended over a year of conflict that resulted in more than 4,000 deaths and 17,000 injuries, against the backdrop of Israel's war in Gaza. Although the Israeli army was slated to withdraw from southern Lebanon in January 2025 under the ceasefire, it has only partially pulled out and continues to maintain a military presence at five border outposts.