Lebanon's Finance Minister Announces $600 Million Ready for Post-War Emergency Response

Lebanon’s Finance Minister Yassin Jaber stated that launching a comprehensive reconstruction project cannot be tied to funding shortages. Instead, an emergency management approach titled "rapid intervention" will focus on addressing the most urgent needs while simultaneously restoring basic living conditions in damaged regions. This strategy outlines the initial phase following the end of the war and is fundamentally different from the approach taken after the 2024 ceasefire, when no funds were available for emergency response. Currently, preliminary resources exist to enable immediate action, with between $500 million and $600 million ready to be spent on emergency and rapid response efforts. These funds have been gathered from previous loans and grants, and if necessary, additional expenditures can be made from the treasury.

In an interview with Al-Akhbar newspaper, Jaber explained that the adopted approach is based on a clear principle: "We want to work on emergency." Efforts will concentrate on fulfilling the essential needs of residents who have begun gradually returning to their villages. This includes providing transitional housing solutions for families who lost their homes, such as prefabricated houses, and repairing basic infrastructure damage where possible, including water, electricity, and communication networks. The plan also involves reopening and rehabilitating roads and removing rubble and obstacles. Following the stabilization of the ceasefire, Jaber will visit southern villages and towns, reaching Nabatieh with a ministerial delegation to assess the extent of damage and needs. This will pave the way for developing a rapid response plan grounded in field reality rather than theoretical estimates. He concluded by expressing hope that "God willing, you will see good results within the available capabilities."