With the escalation of the Israeli war, Lebanon is struggling with an intensifying crisis of displacement. The shelters in Beirut are quickly becoming overcrowded, leaving many displaced people with no choice but to sleep outdoors or in their cars. Meanwhile, many state-owned properties remain vacant to date, representing a missed opportunity to provide refuge for those in need.

According to the records of the Ministry of Finance, there are 1,285 such properties in Beirut. These properties could be repurposed for temporary shelter if included in the National Emergency Plan.  Among these lands, the Mar Mikhael train station stands out as a suitable option, especially with the recent grant of 3.15 million Euros received by the Lebanese government from Italy to support the site rehabilitation.

In light of the current situation, the Lebanese government, in a recent statement for the minister of environment, has announced plans to explore the establishment of shelters in public lands or buildings. This raises an important question: why not take a proactive step by using part of the grant mentioned in decree 13962 to transform the Mar Mikhael train station into a temporary relief and shelter center? This model could potentially be replicated in other regions, allowing the state and municipalities to play a central role in creating additional solutions and expanding the needs for housing and relief spaces in times of crisis.

Read the full Policy Watch in Arabic.