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Lebanon faces a difficult path to recovery from the latest war between Hezbollah and Israel, hampered by a severe lack of financial resources, transparency, and planning for the rebuilding effort.
Israel's campaign of heavy bombardment destroyed Beirut's southern suburbs, villages and towns in the south and in the eastern Baalbek-Hermel region. More than 1.3 million people have been displaced and 166,000 workers lost their jobs.
Initial estimates by the World Bank put the losses at around $8.5 billion, more than three times higher than the cost of the last war between Israel and Hezbollah – a month-long conflict in 2006.
Lamia Moubayed Bissat, head of the Basil Fuleihan Financial and Economic Centre, a Lebanese institution focused on economic research, financial analysis and policy advice, said the final cost could be even higher.
“In the housing sector alone, the war has led to the destruction or damage of more than 100,000 homes, either fully or partially, with costs potentially reaching $3.2 billion. Economic losses are estimated at $5.1 billion, a preliminary figure that is likely to rise once more accurate surveys are conducted,” Ms Bissat added.
"Who will compensate us?" asked Abu Hassan, a shop owner in the Jamous area of Beirut's Dahieh suburb that was struck more than 10 times during the extensive Israeli bombing campaign that began in late September and ended with a US-mediated ceasefire in late November.
"My livelihood is gone and they say compensation will come later, but how are we supposed to survive now?"
More than 600 buildings in Beirut's southern suburbs were completely destroyed, and the National Council for Scientific Research recommends demolishing 30 per cent of those that suffered damage.
Despite the devastation and the loss of livelihood, Abu Hassan returned to his home in Jamous, which was undamaged, to escape the exorbitant rents charged to people who fled the bombing. "We came back to this rubble not knowing what toxic materials might be here, but we had no other choice," he said.
Deputy Prime Minister Saadeh Al Shami told The National that Lebanon would need at least $10 billion to rebuild the war-torn areas – a heavy burden for a country that has been in economic crisis since late 2019.
Mr Al Shami affirmed the World Bank would require environmental impact assessments before providing any financial aid for reconstruction, to ensure that it meets sustainability standards.
Lebanon is in discussions with the bank to establish a multi-donor trust fund to secure the financing. This aims to manage resources effectively and ensure adherence to international standards for debris removal and rebuilding, contributing to sustainable development and avoiding the environmental disasters that occurred after the 2006 war, he said.
“Environmental impact assessments will be mandatory, and we need to make sure that the debris removal is done responsibly, ensuring that any hazardous material is properly handled,” Mr Al Shami stressed.
Nevertheless, the government has gone ahead with awarding contracts for removing rubble and the reconstruction of some buildings, raising concerns among members of the Lebanese Engineers Syndicate who say that the process was not transparent.
“The decision to award such a significant contract to a single firm, without competition or transparency, further complicates the already tenuous trust between the Lebanese people and the authorities,” said Paul Nakouzi, head of the consulting civil engineers branch at the Engineers Syndicate.
The firm in question, Khatib & Alami, provides urban and regional planning, architectural and engineering consultancy services. With only 24 civil engineers on staff, the decision to award it the contract has been questioned, especially given the availability of more than 100 volunteer engineers from the Engineers Syndicate.
“The government has rushed into awarding contracts without proper tenders or oversight, which raises questions about political favouritism and the lack of accountability," said Paul Nakouzi, a syndicate official.
Since the formal tender process takes three to four months, urgent work could be conducted through mutual consent under legal supervision to ensure transparency, Mr Elieh said.
He added that the government had sent him specific terms for rubble removal, which the authority reviewed for compliance with public procurement laws. The document, including environmental conditions set by the Ministry of Environment, was forwarded to the Council of Ministers for approval.
However, local authorities in some areas have begun clearing rubble without environmental assessments or ensuring that it is sorted to remove hazardous materials, including remnants of weapons or explosives.
In Dahieh, rubble removers are reportedly being paid just $5 per cubic metre, raising questions about the quality of the process since such a low rate gives companies little incentive to sort the debris properly.
"The lack of planning and environmental oversight is a failure of the reconstruction process," Ziad Abi Shaqer, an environmental engineer. "The debris should be treated as a resource that can be recycled, not as waste that harms the environment."
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More coverage from the Future Forum
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Ferrari
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Forced%20Deportations
%3Cp%3EWhile%20the%20Lebanese%20government%20has%20deported%20a%20number%20of%20refugees%20back%20to%20Syria%20since%202011%2C%20the%20latest%20round%20is%20the%20first%20en-mass%20campaign%20of%20its%20kind%2C%20say%20the%20Access%20Center%20for%20Human%20Rights%2C%20a%20non-governmental%20organization%20which%20monitors%20the%20conditions%20of%20Syrian%20refugees%20in%20Lebanon.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%9CIn%20the%20past%2C%20the%20Lebanese%20General%20Security%20was%20responsible%20for%20the%20forced%20deportation%20operations%20of%20refugees%2C%20after%20forcing%20them%20to%20sign%20papers%20stating%20that%20they%20wished%20to%20return%20to%20Syria%20of%20their%20own%20free%20will.%20Now%2C%20the%20Lebanese%20army%2C%20specifically%20military%20intelligence%2C%20is%20responsible%20for%20the%20security%20operation%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20Mohammad%20Hasan%2C%20head%20of%20ACHR.%3Cbr%3EIn%20just%20the%20first%20four%20months%20of%202023%20the%20number%20of%20forced%20deportations%20is%20nearly%20double%20that%20of%20the%20entirety%20of%202022.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ESince%20the%20beginning%20of%202023%2C%20ACHR%20has%20reported%20407%20forced%20deportations%20%E2%80%93%20200%20of%20which%20occurred%20in%20April%20alone.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIn%20comparison%2C%20just%20154%20people%20were%20forcfully%20deported%20in%202022.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Violence%20
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Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
What is a robo-adviser?
Robo-advisers use an online sign-up process to gauge an investor’s risk tolerance by feeding information such as their age, income, saving goals and investment history into an algorithm, which then assigns them an investment portfolio, ranging from more conservative to higher risk ones.
These portfolios are made up of exchange traded funds (ETFs) with exposure to indices such as US and global equities, fixed-income products like bonds, though exposure to real estate, commodity ETFs or gold is also possible.
Investing in ETFs allows robo-advisers to offer fees far lower than traditional investments, such as actively managed mutual funds bought through a bank or broker. Investors can buy ETFs directly via a brokerage, but with robo-advisers they benefit from investment portfolios matched to their risk tolerance as well as being user friendly.
Many robo-advisers charge what are called wrap fees, meaning there are no additional fees such as subscription or withdrawal fees, success fees or fees for rebalancing.
What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
Company profile
Name: Fruitful Day
Founders: Marie-Christine Luijckx, Lyla Dalal AlRawi, Lindsey Fournie
Based: Dubai, UAE
Founded: 2015
Number of employees: 30
Sector: F&B
Funding so far: Dh3 million
Future funding plans: None at present
Future markets: Saudi Arabia, potentially Kuwait and other GCC countries
SPECS
Engine: Two-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 235hp
Torque: 350Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Price: From Dh167,500 ($45,000)
On sale: Now
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
THE BIO
Ms Al Ameri likes the variety of her job, and the daily environmental challenges she is presented with.
Regular contact with wildlife is the most appealing part of her role at the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi.
She loves to explore new destinations and lives by her motto of being a voice in the world, and not an echo.
She is the youngest of three children, and has a brother and sister.
Her favourite book, Moby Dick by Herman Melville helped inspire her towards a career exploring the natural world.
Company: Instabug
Founded: 2013
Based: Egypt, Cairo
Sector: IT
Employees: 100
Stage: Series A
Investors: Flat6Labs, Accel, Y Combinator and angel investors
RESULTS
1.45pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,400m
Winner: Dirilis Ertugrul, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Ismail Mohammed (trainer)
2.15pm: Handicap Dh90,000 1,400m
Winner: Kidd Malibu, Sandro Paiva, Musabah Al Muhairi
2.45pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,000m
Winner: Raakezz, Tadhg O’Shea, Nicholas Bachalard
3.15pm: Handicap Dh105,000 1,200m
Winner: Au Couer, Sean Kirrane, Satish Seemar
3.45pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,600m
Winner: Rayig, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
4.15pm: Handicap Dh105,000 1,600m
Winner: Chiefdom, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
4.45pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,800m
Winner: King’s Shadow, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
Barbie
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FIXTURES
Monday, January 28
Iran v Japan, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Tuesday, January 29
UAEv Qatar, Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Friday, February 1
Final, Zayed Sports City Stadium (6pm)
Volunteers offer workers a lifeline
Community volunteers have swung into action delivering food packages and toiletries to the men.
When provisions are distributed, the men line up in long queues for packets of rice, flour, sugar, salt, pulses, milk, biscuits, shaving kits, soap and telecom cards.
Volunteers from St Mary’s Catholic Church said some workers came to the church to pray for their families and ask for assistance.
Boxes packed with essential food items were distributed to workers in the Dubai Investments Park and Ras Al Khaimah camps last week. Workers at the Sonapur camp asked for Dh1,600 towards their gas bill.
“Especially in this year of tolerance we consider ourselves privileged to be able to lend a helping hand to our needy brothers in the Actco camp," Father Lennie Connully, parish priest of St Mary’s.
Workers spoke of their helplessness, seeing children’s marriages cancelled because of lack of money going home. Others told of their misery of being unable to return home when a parent died.
“More than daily food, they are worried about not sending money home for their family,” said Kusum Dutta, a volunteer who works with the Indian consulate.
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TOURNAMENT INFO
Fixtures
Sunday January 5 - Oman v UAE
Monday January 6 - UAE v Namibia
Wednesday January 8 - Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 - Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 - UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid, Darius D’Silva, Karthik Meiyappan, Jonathan Figy, Vriitya Aravind, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Chirag Suri
