Lebanon Three Months On: Mapping a Route to Recovery

December 1, 2006

Three months after the summer war between Israel and Hizbollah ended, Lebanon is still mired in crisis.

The fighting may have stopped, but the recent assassination of cabinet member Pierre Gemayel has only added to existing social turmoil, political paralysis and the potential for renewed military conflict. Moreover, despite substantial international assistance, both the economy and the post-conflict recovery continue to falter.

In short, Lebanon's future hangs in a very delicate balance.

"Despite the ceasefire, Lebanon is again on the verge of crisis, chaos and perhaps even war," says Brian Grzelkowski, Mercy Corps' senior policy advisor and the primary author of a new brief. "Lebanon and its international partners have to act with vision, speed and commitment if a peaceful, prosperous and stable Lebanon is to emerge."

Among the recommendations in the policy brief: that international donors fulfill existing financial commitments, that the recovery emphasize both the government's central role in funding and the communities' participation in decision-making and implementation, and that assistance focus on the hardest-hit regions, especially Shiite communities.

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