RESPONSE TO SHELTER RESPONSE TO SHELTER CRISISCRISIS

APRIL 2009

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

In July 2006, Lebanon was the target of a In July 2006, Lebanon was the target of a devastating war led by Israeldevastating war led by Israel

The cost of the reconstruction was The cost of the reconstruction was estimated to US$ 2.8 billions while estimated to US$ 2.8 billions while compensation for the housing sector was compensation for the housing sector was estimated to 1.4 billion.estimated to 1.4 billion.

South Lebanon witnessed the heaviest South Lebanon witnessed the heaviest bombing: more than 130,000 dwelling units bombing: more than 130,000 dwelling units were affected.were affected.

Housing Damage Housing Damage Assessment in Southern Assessment in Southern

LebanonLebanonTotally Destroyed

Partially Destroyed

Severely Damaged

Totally Affected

Number of units

13,108 2,180 115,139 130,427

Source: CoS as of 11-01-2008

The shelter sector reconstruction cannot be The shelter sector reconstruction cannot be sustainablesustainable without a without a strategic strategic reconstruction reconstruction plan promoting plan promoting governancegovernance, , while focusing on while focusing on socio-economic socio-economic developmentdevelopment, , environmentalenvironmental protectionprotection and and urban expansion managementurban expansion management..

STAKEHOLDERS STAKEHOLDERS RESPONSE RESPONSE

INTERVENTIONSINTERVENTIONS

1- The Government Shelter Reconstruction 1- The Government Shelter Reconstruction PlanPlan

Severity of

Damage

Ceiling Amount

USD

Remarks

Totally Destroyed

40,000 2 installments (50%-50%) Shelter reconstruction USD 30, 000Furniture USD 10,000

Partially Destroyed

28,000 2 Installments. First payment around USD 6,600

Severely Damaged

13,333 2 installments unless damages are less than USD 6,600

Partially Damaged

3,333 1 installment.

The main objective of the GoL national recovery and The main objective of the GoL national recovery and

reconstruction plan was to ensure a safe and prompt reconstruction plan was to ensure a safe and prompt

return of the displaced to their towns and villages.return of the displaced to their towns and villages.

2- Shelter Working Group2- Shelter Working Group

As soon as hostilities started, an emergency As soon as hostilities started, an emergency shelter cluster was established. Cluster shelter cluster was established. Cluster meetings were co-chaired by the CoS and meetings were co-chaired by the CoS and UN-HABITAT and took place on weekly basis UN-HABITAT and took place on weekly basis in Beirut and Southern Lebanon in order to in Beirut and Southern Lebanon in order to provide shelter assistance.provide shelter assistance.

The shelter cluster operation focuses on:The shelter cluster operation focuses on: coordinating the various interventions.coordinating the various interventions. Identifying gaps and unmet needs.Identifying gaps and unmet needs. Tracking government housing compensations. Tracking government housing compensations.

At first, the shelter cluster interventions focused At first, the shelter cluster interventions focused on:on:

►► winterization activities (Waterproofing)winterization activities (Waterproofing)

►►cash for repair partially damaged cash for repair partially damaged houseshouses..

The second stage saw a shift in shelter The second stage saw a shift in shelter intervention:intervention:

►► From quick repair to sustainable From quick repair to sustainable recovery and reconstructionrecovery and reconstruction

3- Stakeholders3- Stakeholders

Governmental OrganizationsGovernmental Organizations Non-Governmental OrganizationsNon-Governmental Organizations Private Consulting Firm (Khatib & Private Consulting Firm (Khatib &

Alami)Alami) UN agencies and mainly UN-HabitatUN agencies and mainly UN-Habitat Donor CountriesDonor Countries Local AuthoritiesLocal Authorities

SHELTER SHELTER RECONSTRUCTION RECONSTRUCTION

SUSTAINABILITYSUSTAINABILITY

1- Challenges and Gaps1- Challenges and Gaps

Financial Challenges:Financial Challenges: Delays in the compensation Delays in the compensation disbursements due to the long administrative disbursements due to the long administrative procedures.procedures.

Legal ChallengesLegal Challenges:: Absence of reconstruction Absence of reconstruction regulatory framework regulatory framework

Technical ChallengesTechnical Challenges:: Lack Proper Urban Planning Rules and regulationsLack Proper Urban Planning Rules and regulations Inaccurate Documentation of housingInaccurate Documentation of housing

Management ChallengesManagement Challenges: : Absence of a defined Absence of a defined plan and poor community awareness and know-howplan and poor community awareness and know-how

Governance ChallengesGovernance Challenges: : Governance challenges Governance challenges require the continued search for peace, security, require the continued search for peace, security, political stability, transparency, decentralization, political stability, transparency, decentralization, equity, participation, reform in local development equity, participation, reform in local development strategies, etc.strategies, etc.

Socio-economic ChallengesSocio-economic Challenges: : Poverty, Poverty, unemployment, migration, etc.unemployment, migration, etc.

2- Strategic Fields of Intervention2- Strategic Fields of Intervention

The shelter sector recovery plan main The shelter sector recovery plan main objective was to meet two categories of needs:objective was to meet two categories of needs:

The The short term or immediate needsshort term or immediate needs: : ensuring a prompt and safe return of ensuring a prompt and safe return of displaced peopledisplaced people

The The Long term needsLong term needs: : ensuring the ensuring the sustainability of the shelter reconstruction.sustainability of the shelter reconstruction.

The fundamental challenge is to reconcile The fundamental challenge is to reconcile between the short term and long term needs between the short term and long term needs in order to bridge the gap between the two in order to bridge the gap between the two categories of goals and ensure a sustainable categories of goals and ensure a sustainable reconstruction.reconstruction.

Socio-Economic Field: Livelihood SupportSocio-Economic Field: Livelihood Support

A A vital local economy vital local economy is one of the key elements inis one of the key elements in

sustainable recovery and development in South sustainable recovery and development in South Lebanon.Lebanon.

Employment generation programsEmployment generation programs must be put in must be put in place in order to link relief, development and place in order to link relief, development and reconstruction.reconstruction.

Promoting sustainable economic development Promoting sustainable economic development consists in creating new dynamics by developing consists in creating new dynamics by developing existing activities or investing in high added value existing activities or investing in high added value sectors.sectors.

These action plans should These action plans should focus on SMI and SME focus on SMI and SME and on and on promoting gender equitypromoting gender equity..

Investments should be oriented towards:Investments should be oriented towards: Alternative AgricultureAlternative Agriculture Organic AgricultureOrganic Agriculture Food Processing IndustryFood Processing Industry Aquaculture in Coastal CitiesAquaculture in Coastal Cities TourismTourism

Urban Planning FieldUrban Planning Field

The urban fabric in South Lebanon is anarchic.The urban fabric in South Lebanon is anarchic.Interventions in the urban planning field should Interventions in the urban planning field should

includeincludethe following:the following: Managing the urbanization Managing the urbanization and avoiding the and avoiding the

proliferation of informal settlementsproliferation of informal settlements Integration of the informal settlement Integration of the informal settlement Surveying Surveying the villages that were not included in the villages that were not included in

the ministry of finance planthe ministry of finance plan Highlighting on the Highlighting on the identity of historical citiesidentity of historical cities Protecting and Protecting and preserving the agricultural preserving the agricultural

areasareas Solving the squatted public domain Solving the squatted public domain

problemsproblems..

Environmental FieldEnvironmental Field

The environmental degradation is accelerated andThe environmental degradation is accelerated and

Compromises the shelter reconstruction Compromises the shelter reconstruction sustainability.sustainability.

There is an emergency to recourse to:There is an emergency to recourse to:

ProtectingProtecting agricultural plains agricultural plains from urban from urban expansion expansion

ProtectingProtecting spring and underground water spring and underground water and littoral and littoral from pollutionfrom pollution

Fighting against soil degradationFighting against soil degradation Implementing a Implementing a solid waste management solid waste management

planplan.. Switching to Switching to renewable energy solutionsrenewable energy solutions

Governance FieldGovernance Field

The principles of good governance are key The principles of good governance are key elements forelements for

sustainable development and crisis mitigation and sustainable development and crisis mitigation and

management.management.

Empowering Empowering Community Organizations and Community Organizations and NGOsNGOs

Reinforcing Reinforcing Public Institutions Public Institutions Developing Developing Local Governments capacitiesLocal Governments capacities Insuring all Insuring all stakeholders involvementstakeholders involvement

Security FieldSecurity Field

Security conditions in South Lebanon Security conditions in South Lebanon represent a represent a

major threat to shelter sustainability:major threat to shelter sustainability: Unexploded cluster bombsUnexploded cluster bombs Risk of another warRisk of another war

3- Targets Optimization3- Targets Optimization

Decision-makers, the GoL and municipalities canDecision-makers, the GoL and municipalities can

contribute to the target optimization through thecontribute to the target optimization through the

following initiatives:following initiatives: Promotion of subsidized micro-credit policiesPromotion of subsidized micro-credit policies Reform inside the fiscal and financial systemsReform inside the fiscal and financial systems Implication of repatriated capitals in the Implication of repatriated capitals in the

development strategies while stimulating development strategies while stimulating their reinvestment in productive sectors.their reinvestment in productive sectors.

Increasing population awareness about socio-Increasing population awareness about socio-economic, urban planning, environmental, economic, urban planning, environmental, governance and security issues.governance and security issues.

Thank youThank you