TRIPOLI—Residents of Tripoli’s embattled Bab al-Tabbaneh neighborhood Sunday protested delays in the reconstruction of their homes and shops destroyed during a military offensive against jihadist militants in October.
Speaking on behalf of area residents, lawyer Saleh Mukaddam warned that “a social explosion is often stronger than political and security disputes,” while stressing that Tripoli’s security plan could not be completed without balanced growth and reconstruction.
He said residents are still waiting for the reconstruction of their homes ravaged by four days of fierce battles that pitted the Lebanese Army against militants across north Lebanon.
Mukaddam also expressed his fears that the dossier would be riddled with political considerations which, in turn, could contribute to prolonging the execution of rehabilitation projects.
Despite the concern, he expressed his “full trust” in Secretary-General of the Higher Relief Committee Maj. Gen. Mohammad Khair, urging him to expedite reconstruction.
Displaying compensation checks issued to some of the residents, Mukaddam pointed out that not a single check exceeded LL 200,000 ($132), when the cost of repairing the damages is tens of thousands of dollars.
Lebanon’s Cabinet declared Bab al-Tabbaneh a “disaster-stricken area” after the October clashes, allocating $20 million in compensation and reconstruction projects.
Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri followed suit with his own $20 million pledge to affected areas.
Photo: Damaged neighborhood of Bab al-Tabbaneh in Tripoli, Monday, 27 October 2014. Source: Mohammad Azakir/ The Daily Star.
