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APRIL 2009. RESPONSE TO SHELTER CRISIS. INTRODUCTION. In July 2006, Lebanon was the target of a devastating war led by Israel The cost of the reconstruction was estimated to US$ 2.8 billions while compensation for the housing sector was estimated to 1.4 billion.
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APRIL 2009 RESPONSE TO SHELTER CRISIS
INTRODUCTION In July 2006, Lebanon was the target of a devastating war led by Israel The cost of the reconstruction was estimated to US$ 2.8 billions while compensation for the housing sector was estimated to 1.4 billion. South Lebanon witnessed the heaviest bombing: more than 130,000 dwelling units were affected.
Housing Damage Assessment in Southern Lebanon • The shelter sector reconstruction cannot be sustainable without astrategic reconstruction plan promoting governance, while focusing on socio-economic development, environmentalprotection and urban expansion management.
1- The Government Shelter Reconstruction Plan The main objective of the GoL national recovery and reconstruction plan was to ensure a safe and prompt return of the displaced to their towns and villages.
2- Shelter Working Group As soon as hostilities started, an emergency shelter cluster was established. Cluster meetings were co-chaired by the CoS and UN-HABITAT and took place on weekly basis in Beirut and Southern Lebanon in order to provide shelter assistance. The shelter cluster operation focuses on: coordinating the various interventions. Identifying gaps and unmet needs. Tracking government housing compensations.
At first, the shelter cluster interventions focused on: ►winterization activities (Waterproofing) ►cash for repair partially damaged houses. The second stage saw a shift in shelter intervention: ►From quick repair to sustainable recovery and reconstruction
3- Stakeholders • Governmental Organizations • Non-Governmental Organizations • Private Consulting Firm (Khatib & Alami) • UN agencies and mainly UN-Habitat • Donor Countries • Local Authorities
1- Challenges and Gaps • Financial Challenges:Delays in the compensation disbursements due to the long administrative procedures. • Legal Challenges:Absence of reconstruction regulatory framework • Technical Challenges: • Lack Proper Urban Planning Rules and regulations • Inaccurate Documentation of housing • Management Challenges: Absence of a defined plan and poor community awareness and know-how • Governance Challenges: Governance challenges require the continued search for peace, security, political stability, transparency, decentralization, equity, participation, reform in local development strategies, etc. • Socio-economic Challenges: Poverty, unemployment, migration, etc.
2- Strategic Fields of Intervention • The shelter sector recovery plan main objective was to meet two categories of needs: • The short term or immediate needs: ensuring a prompt and safe return of displaced people • The Long term needs: ensuring the sustainability of the shelter reconstruction. • The fundamental challenge is to reconcile between the short term and long term needs in order to bridge the gap between the two categories of goals and ensure a sustainable reconstruction.
Socio-Economic Field: Livelihood Support A vital local economy is one of the key elements in sustainable recovery and development in South Lebanon. • Employment generation programsmust be put in place in order to link relief, development and reconstruction. • Promoting sustainable economic development consists in creating new dynamics by developing existing activities or investing in high added value sectors. • These action plans should focus on SMI and SME and on promoting gender equity.
Investments should be oriented towards: • Alternative Agriculture • Organic Agriculture • Food Processing Industry • Aquaculture in Coastal Cities • Tourism
Urban Planning Field The urban fabric in South Lebanon is anarchic. Interventions in the urban planning field should include the following: • Managing the urbanization and avoiding the proliferation of informal settlements • Integration of the informal settlement • Surveying the villages that were not included in the ministry of finance plan • Highlighting on the identity of historical cities • Protecting and preserving the agricultural areas • Solving the squatted public domain problems.
Environmental Field The environmental degradation is accelerated and Compromises the shelter reconstruction sustainability. There is an emergency to recourse to: • Protecting agricultural plains from urban expansion • Protecting spring and underground water and littoral from pollution • Fighting against soil degradation • Implementing a solid waste management plan. • Switching to renewable energy solutions
Governance Field The principles of good governance are key elements for sustainable development and crisis mitigation and management. • Empowering Community Organizations and NGOs • Reinforcing Public Institutions • Developing Local Governments capacities • Insuring all stakeholders involvement
Security Field Security conditions in South Lebanon represent a major threat to shelter sustainability: • Unexploded cluster bombs • Risk of another war
3- Targets Optimization Decision-makers, the GoL and municipalities can contribute to the target optimization through the following initiatives: • Promotion of subsidized micro-credit policies • Reform inside the fiscal and financial systems • Implication of repatriated capitals in the development strategies while stimulating their reinvestment in productive sectors. • Increasing population awareness about socio-economic, urban planning, environmental, governance and security issues.
