Lebanese Prime Minister \u201cNawaf Salam\u201d said that the cost of the two wars that began in 2023 and on March 2 had exceeded $20 billion, expecting the total cost to surpass $27 billion after completing the assessment of the losses from the 2026 war.<\/p>\n
\u201cSalam\u201d added that parts of Lebanese territory had come under occupation, including 75 towns and cities in southern Lebanon, while around 250,000 Lebanese remain displaced.<\/p>\n
He explained that the latest war resulted in the destruction of around 91,000 housing units, while 230,000 units were damaged during the previous war, noting that the war exacerbated Lebanon\u2019s crises and halted the growth trajectory that had begun.<\/p>\n
The prime minister stressed that Lebanon\u2019s humanitarian needs are \u201cvery great,\u201d and that the scale of the destruction exceeds the state\u2019s current capacity and resources, calling for the Lebanese people to be told frankly about the reality of the situation and the scale of the challenges.<\/p>\n
Salam said: \u201cOur goal is not to manage the displacement of the people of the south, but to return them to their land,\u201d explaining that the government is working to secure the conditions for the safe and dignified return of displaced people to their areas.<\/p>\n
He added that the government \u201chas never stopped fulfilling its responsibilities toward citizens,\u201d noting that cash assistance had been distributed to the most vulnerable families, with a total value of $52 million.<\/p>\n
He stressed that the state \u201cwas strongly present and fulfilled its duty within its limited capabilities\u201d during one of the most difficult crises Lebanon has experienced, despite the scale of the damage and the rising number of displaced people and those affected.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, \u201cSalam\u201d warned that Lebanon is facing a \u201cserious shortfall in international response and support,\u201d at a time when reconstruction and recovery require Arab and international support as well as substantial external financing.<\/p>\n
The prime minister linked reconstruction to the state\u2019s ability to restore confidence, saying: \u201cThere can be no sustainable reconstruction without financing, no financing without confidence, and no confidence without a capable state.\u201d<\/p>\n
He explained that building a capable state requires beginning with reform, foremost among which are financial reforms, as a gateway to restoring confidence and attracting the financing necessary for recovery and reconstruction.<\/p>\n
\u201cSalam\u201d affirmed that the government is determined to confront the reality despite limited resources, continue shouldering its responsibilities toward citizens, and work to return displaced people to their areas rather than merely managing the consequences of displacement.<\/p>\n
The figures announced by Salam place Lebanon before simultaneous challenges, including restoring control over its territory, rebuilding tens of thousands of housing units, securing the return of approximately a quarter of a million displaced people, and resuming the growth trajectory, amid a wide gap between the scale of needs and local capabilities.<\/p>\n
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