Filiep Decorte, a representative of the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), stated that the ongoing crises in the Middle East have further exacerbated the socio-economic situation in Lebanon and Syria.
Modern.az reports that he made these remarks during a discussion titled “The Middle East Crisis and its Impacts on Global Housing and Urban Planning” organized within the framework of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum held in Baku, adding that the situation is particularly complex in Lebanon.
According to him, a large-scale forced displacement process has restarted in the country, and a significant portion of the population has settled in rented apartments or with other families, rather than in collective centers.
“Many displaced families did not think they would be homeless for a long time. Now they are forced to pay rent for longer than they planned,” he said.
Filiep Decorte noted that the energy crisis in Lebanon further complicates the situation. Due to the virtual collapse of the electricity system after previous conflicts and the explosion at Beirut port, people are forced to use generators. The increase in fuel prices has raised both rent and living costs.
The UN-Habitat representative added that the Lebanese government was previously able to provide financial support to the population for the reconstruction of destroyed homes. However, these opportunities have been significantly limited amid the current financial crisis.
“Currently, there is a lack of funds for reconstruction. At the same time, the price of construction materials is increasing. This means doing less work with less funding,” he emphasized.
Touching upon the situation in Syria, Filiep Decorte stated that the government in the country is working to encourage people to leave camps and return to their homes. According to him, although international funding and private sector opportunities are limited, new mechanisms are being developed to support the return of families.
