Beirut - New York: Europe and the Arabs
The recent conflict in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah, which escalated dramatically in late 2024, resulted in massive destruction. Thousands lost their lives, residential areas were reduced to rubble, and vital infrastructure was significantly damaged. At the height of the crisis, approximately 1.3 million people were internally displaced. The massive destruction created millions of tons of rubble, posing immediate risks and long-term challenges to recovery efforts. According to the UN Daily News Bulletin, a copy of which we received, in the midst of this devastation, the United Nations in Lebanon has formed and activated a "UN Debris Management Task Force" to coordinate efforts in this field, adopting a sustainable, human rights-based approach.
This UN team aims to ensure a safe, effective, and environmentally responsible recovery, while ensuring the protection of the rights of affected communities to housing, health, and a healthy environment. The Rubble of War: An Opportunity for Lebanon's Recovery
Unprecedented destruction has turned neighborhoods that were once vibrant and prosperous before the war into dangerous areas. Families returning to their homes face significant risks from unexploded ordnance, environmental pollutants, and structurally damaged buildings.
Some schools and cultural heritage sites in targeted areas across Lebanon are in ruins.
The collapse of buildings and the mixing of household waste with the rubble have exacerbated health and environmental risks, creating an urgent need for immediate intervention.