Hezbollah is taking advantage of the ceasefire to recover and reorganize, working vigorously to rehabilitate the destroyed villages in southern Lebanon. In recent days, Hezbollah's 'Jihad al-Bina' (Jihad of Construction) fund published its compensation framework for residents whose homes were destroyed during the war.
According to the announcement, the compensation framework is divided between regions in Lebanon:
In the southern suburb of Beirut: Each family whose home was destroyed will receive $6,000 per year for temporary housing until their home is rebuilt. Each family whose home was damaged will receive a one-time payment of $8,000 for furniture costs, at a total of $14,000 per family.
In the South and Bekaa: Each family whose home was destroyed will receive $4,000 per year for temporary housing until the home is rebuilt. Each family whose home was damaged will receive a one-time payment of $8,000 for furniture costs, at a total of $12,000 per family.
According to the announcement, funds will only be transferred to families for whom the destroyed home was their only residence. Anyone receiving support from other external sources will have that support deducted from the amounts detailed above.
Last month the World Bank estimated that damage to civilian housing alone in Lebanon amounts to $2.8 billion, with approximately 99,000 homes partially or completely destroyed, while the general civilian damage in Lebanon is estimated by the central bank at $8.5 billion.
Meanwhile, Lebanon's Al-Akhbar, which is affiliated with the Shiite terror organization, reported that the cost of rehabilitating Beirut's Dahieh according to the damage caused in the Shiite quarter until the end of October is estimated at $630 million. The report also noted that the cost of rehabilitating all areas in Lebanon affected by the war is estimated at almost three billion dollars.
Last October, the official Lebanese news agency reported that more than 37 villages within 3 km of the Israeli border were wiped out during the war, and that more than 40,000 housing units were destroyed. According to data published in Arab media, about 44,000 homes in southern Lebanon were completely destroyed as a result of the war, 22,000 homes were partially destroyed, and 120,000 homes were lightly damaged.
Kikar HaShabbat contributed to this article.
