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 dwellers, deemed “illegal”. These threats echo larger debates about the neglect of informal settlements and challenges faced by those seeking safe and affordable housing in Beirut and its outskirts. In fact, informal areas house over 61.1% of the Lebanese urban population; however, they face erasure in favour of real estate development, raising questions about the state’s responsibility to protect such communities.
Read the full Field Watch in Arabic here.
MP Anis Nassar submits another exemption proposal for the displaced: a solution towards return or an escape from the solution?
Proposing a law for the exemption of the displaced from construction fees.
It was referred to the Finance and Budget, Administration and Justice, and the Affairs of the Displaced committees, but it has not been studied yet.