Photo Credit: Refugees International
08/20/2006

While Hezbollah is attempting to “cushion the shock” of the families who have seen up to 50% of their villages destroyed by passing out cash payments, this money is not enough for the families to rebuild their entire houses and does not even begin to address the loss of livelihoods. Nadim’s father told us, “I received $10,000 from Hezbollah to replace the furniture from my house but it is not enough. I have also lost my business and I have to rebuild this house.” Nadim pointed out that although his house did not qualify for immediate support from Hezbollah he still had problems. “My garage was terribly damaged,” he told us as we walked outside. “I had a truck and a tractor that are completely destroyed. I am a teacher and I received my salary for July but I am uncertain about August and September.”

Refugees International interviewed carpenters and furniture makers who lost all their tools and supplies, farmers whose groves and orchards are too littered with unexploded ordnance to harvest crops that sit wilting in the sun, and teachers who wait to hear whether or not their schools will be able to reopen since they are structurally damaged and need to be rebuilt. The nascent government of Lebanon, together with the international community, must urgently address the needs of the people in the South – both those who have lost homes and those that have lost their means to support their families.