Speaker Nabih Berri criticized the government Saturday for its procrastination in the reconstruction efforts in South Beirut and Southern Lebanon. Those areas suffered major damage during the 2006 War with Israel.
The areas, predominantly Shiite, were the targets of Israeli bombs in that country’s effort to exterminate Hizballah, the resistance group that forced out Israel in 2000.
Historically, South Beirut and Southern Lebanon have largely been ignored by the Lebanese government, as the Shia held little political sway. That is, until recently. The Muslim sect has seen a steady improvement in its political stature and socio-economic wellbeing since the end of the civil war, particularly due to the efforts of Hizballah.
So far, most of the reconstruction has been done by Hizballah though its Wa’ad program (meaning “pledge” or “promise” in Arabic). Rebuilding efforts in the areas remain steady. But since the areas were neglected for so long, the reconstruction going on today is aimed at improving conditions for the local people above where they were before 2006, instead of just returning things to the status quo.
That goal has come under criticism by some who charge Hizballah is adopting a “costly plan” that exceeds what is necessary to get things back to where they were. However, just returning conditions to the state they were in before 2006 is probably undesirable for most of the effected people.
“Hizbullah will certainly benefit from this reconstruction project because it is cementing the loyalty of the people,” said Ahmad Baalbaki, a professor of sociology. In contrast, for decades the government neglected the development of the southern suburbs, and Hizbullah stepped in to fill the void.
“Before Hizbullah, in the 1980s, even in the 1970s, the southern suburbs was like a jungle. Where was, then, the authority of the state,” he asked.
Meanwhile, Nabih Berri continues to urge the government to do its part.
