As the lead agency within the United Nations system specialising in cities and human settlements, UN-Habitat played a key role in the immediate and long-term response following the Beirut Port explosion – on multiple levels: on-ground response through technical teams deployed at the most affected municipalities, undertaking coordination and damage assessment – Beirut and Bourj Hammoud; co-leading the shelter sector response with UNHCR immediately set-up under a specific explosion response coordination system under the Humanitarian Coordinator; extensive inputs to the Rapid Damage Needs Assessment led by the World Bank for housing, culture and municipal services chapters, and the subsequent Reform Recovery and Reconstruction (3RF) Framework (WB/EU/UN/Government of Lebanon-led) which continues to guide the recovery and reconstruction today. UN-Habitat continues its efforts under a broader urban recovery framework for Beirut, which involves continuous collaboration across all levels of actors, United Nations, governorate and municipality of Beirut, Directorate-Generals of Antiquities under Ministry of Culture, and Public Housing Cooperation under Ministry of Social Affairs, the Lebanese Armed Forces (who were at the frontline of the response on behalf of the Government of Lebanon) and many others.

In March 2021, the Japan Supplementary Budget granted USD 2.16 million to UN-Habitat to support the post-explosion recovery in Beirut. In this project, UN-Habitat worked in close coordination with the Municipality of Beirut, the Beirut Governor’s Office, the Order of Engineers and Architects (OEA) and the local community to plan, design and implement the project and make it tailor-made for the city. At the field level, the cooperation with Live Love Lebanon and Rashet Kheir also facilitates the rehabilitation of the damaged heritage buildings and the restoration of public spaces. Additionally, UN-Habitat’s cooperation with CCP Japan and PARCIC Japan ensured respectively the installation of the 15 handwashing stations accompanied with awareness raising activities and the implementation of the cash-for-work programmes with the local communities. UN-Habitat managed the coordination between all stakeholders involved in the project.

Name: Wael Sinno

Unit/Branch/Office: Area Coordinator for Beirut and Mount Lebanon at UN-Habitat Lebanon

Email: wael.sinno@un.org

Physical address: Beirut, Lebanon

Human rights

The project adopts a human rights-based approach and follows the “Do No Harm” principles, seeking in particular to ensure inclusive participation and no one is left behind. Vulnerability criteria are included in the selection of beneficiaries. Households with vulnerable members such as female heads, widows, elderly and/or persons with disabilities will be given priority in the selection process.

Gender equality

The project works on ensuring the gender balance of the beneficiaries from the community. This is done by providing platforms and opportunities for grassroots women to have a voice in local urban development and the global urban agenda where possible.

Children, youth and the elderly

The project puts youth at the forefront of change at the local level where possible, acknowledging the critical role of youth in the rebuilding efforts as a catalyst to more meaningful representation and decision making for future sustainability. This is done through engaging youth in skill development and cash for work opportunities. By engaging in the reconstruction work, youth will become self-reliant and positively impact the overall stability of affected communities.

Disability

The need of people living with disabilities is fully considered in rehabilitating the damaged residential heritage buildings and the communal spaces. Walkability and accessibility are improved for the elderly, people living with disabilities, chidren and all alike to make them safely access all buildings and facilities.

The project contributes to preserving national heritage as the damaged buildings were built in the French and Ottoman eras. While the worsening socio-economic situation in Lebanon continues to deepen, this project also helps mitigate the effects of the crisis by providing community members with cash-for-work after they have acquired the necessary construction and rehabilitation skills through tailored vocational training sessions. Youth groups of vulnerable Lebanese and Syrian refugees are engaged and employed for the project’s construction and rehabilitation activities, supporting the revitalisation of the local economy and enhancing the community’s sense of ownership. Moreover, energy-efficient solutions and environmentally sound materials are promoted in the design and implementation of the rehabilitation works to achieve better the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and combat climate change.

The issue of housing and property rights constitutes an essential component of the project and is within the mission and scope of UN-Habitat Lebanon, and the programme attaches great importance to this issue as it has and continues to seek its redress since the beginning of the project with the aim of protecting the rights of the population. UN-Habitat Lebanon has conducted a number of interviews with the families and listened to their fears and apprehensions and is working to address them within the scope of its mandate.