Minister Hanin Al-Sayed Visits Tyre: Efforts Underway to Secure Rental Assistance for Displaced Persons

During her visit to the city of Tyre, Minister of Social Affairs Hanin Al-Sayed initiated discussions at the Union of Municipalities of the Tyre District. The meeting was attended by MP Inaya Ezzeddine, Amal Movement's regional organizer Ali Ismail, Chairman of the Union Hassan Dbouk, Deputy Chairman Adel Saad, Deputy Mayor Alwan Sharafeddine, Southern Council Director Hassan Hani, and Murtada Mhanna, Director of the Disaster Management Unit, alongside other municipal leaders.
The session began with a welcome speech by Chairman Dbouk, followed by a detailed presentation from Murtada Mhanna outlining statistics on the number of displaced persons during the Israeli aggression and in the current period, along with the aid provided to them in shelters and externally.
Minister Al-Sayed stated that while the ceasefire remains fragile, the south is seeing some displaced individuals return. She emphasized that the purpose of her visit was to gain field insights and listen to challenges, as part of preparations for a comprehensive plan for return, recovery, and reconstruction.
She explained that the plan involves multiple axes requiring funding, noting that state resources are limited. A call for international community support is essential to secure necessary funds swiftly and initiate projects, in addition to providing urgent aid to affected individuals as more funding becomes available.
She noted that around 400,000 displaced persons have returned to their areas, but many still cannot due to destruction or inaccessibility. Efforts to secure rental assistance for as many displaced individuals as possible are underway.
Al-Sayed also mentioned potential financial help for homeowners with minor damages, allowing them to conduct necessary repairs and return to their homes. Additionally, providing temporary housing close to their hometowns is a discussed intervention.
She highlighted infrastructure rehabilitation handled by the Southern Council, involving debris removal and reopening main roads, with works already in progress. Telecommunications services are being restored by the Ministry of Telecommunications, while the entire government is focused on the upcoming stage.
Regarding social support programs, the Ministry continues implementing the “Aman” program, reassessing beneficiary families to introduce about 50,000 new families. A second phase of emergency cash aid is underway, targeting around 130,000 families, including 41,000 in the Tyre District.
Al-Sayed commented on seeking a new location for the Social Affairs Center in Tyre, expressing hope for collaboration with the Tyre Municipality to find a suitable venue and assurance of readiness in terms of equipment. Efforts are ongoing to inspect damaged social centers in Tyre for their reopening soon.
The Ministry will persist in supporting displaced persons in shelters, organizing their accommodation efficiently before the school year commences in September.
The government, in collaboration with the Minister of Economy, is developing a support program for small and medium enterprises to aid in economic recovery.
Concluding, Al-Sayed stressed that every state apparatus is committed to ensuring a life of dignity and fostering recovery.
Dbouk reiterated the significant responsibility of municipalities amidst resource shortages and highlighted the massive suffering post-conflict, advocating for collective effort to alleviate citizen hardship.
Ali Ismail spoke on the challenging conditions faced by southerners, urging Minister Al-Sayed to extend maximum assistance to displaced individuals, especially those from border villages whose homes are destroyed.
The meeting concluded with Al-Sayed and her delegation visiting the disaster management operations room, receiving briefings from Murtada Mhanna on the unit’s management of displaced persons.
Interventions from municipal leaders followed, engaging in discussions with Minister Al-Sayed on the Aman program and anticipated benefits for eligible citizens.