City Watch

Policy Watch

Allowing municipalities to issue building permits:

al-Mawlawi puts public safety at risk

On Monday, June 24, the deputies of the “National Moderation” bloc visited the Minister of Interior, Bassam al-Mawlawi, to urge him to allow municipalities to issue building permits for buildings that do not …

Policy Watch

The right to housing in the National Social Protection Strategy for Lebanon

On February 13, 2024, Lebanon’s Cabinet approved the first national social protection strategy, aiming to replace the fragmented, privilege-based system with one based on rights and comprehensive reform. Prime Minister Najib Mikati launched …

Policy Watch

In KfarAbida: Raghida Dergham takes over public property through the policies of the higher Council of Urban Planning

Last Sunday, June 9, 2024, residents and activists in the town of KfarAbida gathered in front of the villa of journalist Raghida Dergham, to denounce the building violations she is committing, and to …

Article Policy Watch

The Government’s Collusion with the Violating Cement Companies:

Towards Further Depletion of Natural Resources

In its latest decision No. 36 issued on May 28, 2024, the government granted cement companies an “exceptional” one-year extension to continue extracting raw materials from their quarries. This decision, which came at …

Field Watch

Young men raided the Beirut Horsh and the municipality rewards them

In April 2024, a group of young men from Tariq Al-Jadida raided Horsh Beirut to apprehend youths accused of drug use and trafficking by entering the Horsh through gaps in its fence, following …

Policy Watch

Judicial decision to reclaim 3 public properties in Naqoura:

What about the other 13 plots?

On March 28, 2024, a judicial decision was issued ruling to reclaim 3 large-scale plots in the Southern town of Naqoura for the benefit of the Lebanese state, after one of the land …

Policy Watch

The state can play its role

El Nabatieh Governorate leads the way in proposing fair rent

As of February 20, 2024, nearly 90,000 people have been displaced from their homes in Lebanon due to Israeli attacks. The International Organization for Migration estimates that around 15% of them have resorted …

Field Watch

The Collapse of the Rishani Building in Chouaifat Exposes the Failures of the Owner, Municipality, and the General Directorate for Urban Planning

Just about a week after the complete collapse of a building in Sahra Chouaifat, another tragedy struck on Monday, February 19, 2024. The Rishani building in the Ain neighbourhood of Chouaifat collapsed on …

Field Watch

Collapse in al-Meselmani building in al-‘Hayy al-Gharbi:

10 families were displaced

Part of the Al-Meselmani building, in Al-’Hayy al-Gharbi extending between Chatila Camp and the Sports Stadium, collapsed on Saturday morning. As a result, ten families who had lived in the building for about …

Field Watch

An application to monitor Syrian Refugees:

turning every citizen into a fascist

Taking advantage of the crime of killing a member of the Beirut Guard Regiment in Gemmayzeh, a Beirut MP launched an application to report Syrian refugees in Beirut. MP Ghassan Hasbani – the …

Field Watch

Another collapse in Mansourieh, and the state deals with it as an individual case

As torrents swept through diverse Lebanese regions, residents of one of the Nada 3 complex buildings are living under the threat of falling rocks. The residents had to evacuate, sometimes sleeping in cars, …

Field Watch

Mass Eviction in Bir Hassan:

the State Continues to Disregard the Rights of Residents in Informal Neighborhoods

In Bir Hassan, a building where many have found refuge during the Lebanese war now faces eviction after years of neglect. Originally housing war-displaced residents, the building’s new owners aim to evict the …