Qatar distributes cash to owners of damaged homes
The Council for Development and Reconstruction estimated the cost of destroyed infrastructure, houses and schools at $3.6 billion. Experts believe that about 130,000 houses were either destroyed or badly damaged during the war, which left more than 1 million residents of the South homeless. The Lebanese government received a pledge of over $940 million from donor states during the Stockholm conference held last month. But most of the donor states expressed interest in carrying out the projects themselves and without any involvement of the government. Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said the government will pay each resident who lost his home $33,000 and another $7,000 for furniture. However, many residents of the southern suburbs and the South complain that they have not yet seen a single penny from the government.
Daily Star staff
Friday, September 29, 2006
BEIRUT: Qatar began distributing money on Thursday to the residents of Khiam in the South as compensation for houses destroyed or damaged during the 34-day Israeli war on Lebanon that ended on August 14. The Special Engineering Office, which was created by Qatar, handed out checks to 403 beneficiaries and each check amounted to $12,000.
Qatari officials said these checks cover light damages to houses and properties in Khiam, adding the government will soon distribute money to those who lost all their homes.
Qatar will assess the value of the residences that were completely destroyed before issuing the checks.
The Council for Development and Reconstruction estimated the cost of destroyed infrastructure, houses and schools at $3.6 billion.
Experts believe that about 130,000 houses were either destroyed or badly damaged during the war, which left more than 1 million residents of the South homeless.
The Lebanese government received a pledge of over $940 million from donor states during the Stockholm conference held last month.
But most of the donor states expressed interest in carrying out the projects themselves and without any involvement of the government.
Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have pledged $500 million and $300 million respectively.
Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said the government will pay each resident who lost his home $33,000 and another $7,000 for furniture.
However, many residents of the southern suburbs and the South complain that they have not yet seen a single penny from the government.
Qatari officials also said that they will hand out checks to two other Lebanese villages in the South soon.
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Source - The Daily Star