Beirut reconstruction making progress

The plan was designed by the European Union, the United Nations and the World Bank.

Beirut will see the daylight again thanks to the pharaonic donation plan. Institutional donors yesterday, Friday, unveiled a program to rebuild Beirut and help its population after the explosion at the port in early August, which killed more than 200 people, estimating the necessary funds at 2.5 billion dollars over eighteen months.

The “reform, recovery and reconstruction” or “3RF framework” plan was designed by the European Union, the United Nations and the World Bank. It is a roadmap to help the most vulnerable through international grants and to guide reconstruction funds, in parallel with far-reaching reforms.

The “priority needs” concerning the population “amount to 584 million dollars (about 480 million euros), of which 426 million are expected in the first year”, according to the report on the “3RF framework” published Friday. The costs of reform and reconstruction “are estimated at $ 2 billion” (around 1.6 billion euros).

A plan subject to the progress of reforms

The three authorities warned that international support for the reconstruction of the Lebanese capital would depend “on credible progress in terms of reforms that the government can put forward”. These efforts should relate in particular to “the audit of the central bank, reform of the banking sector, capital controls and the unification of the exchange rate”, or even the definition of a “trajectory credible and sustainable towards fiscal sustainability”.

“Progress on these reforms will be fundamental in order to allow the mobilization of private financing or public loans (…) important for the implementation of major reconstruction projects”, they noted. The institutional trio drew up a long list of urgent measures, including a “transparent investigation” to determine the causes of the explosion of August 4 and the promulgation of a “port law governing the operations of the port authority as well as the customs”.

The explosion was triggered by a fire in a warehouse housing, according to the authorities, tons of ammonium nitrate without precaution. The tragedy also left more than 6,500 injured and devastated the entire neighborhoods.

An investigation by Lebanese authorities resulted in the arrest of 25 people, including port and customs officials, but no findings have been released at this stage. Lebanon has been stuck for over a year in a deep economic, social and political crisis. In addition to a historic depreciation of its currency and hyperinflation, the country has been without a government for more than three months.

You might also like

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept Read More