Lebanon Needs Over $20 Billion for Post-War Reconstruction, Report Finds

A new assessment estimates that Lebanon’s post-war recovery and reconstruction will require more than 20 billion US dollars. The report, released by the Beirut-based Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, calculates that direct physical damage amounts to 6.8 billion dollars, while indirect economic losses total 14.2 billion dollars. The combined losses represent more than 65 percent of Lebanon’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The report noted that Lebanon’s 2019 financial collapse has left the government largely unable to finance reconstruction through traditional means, making the country heavily dependent on international grants and loans tied to long-delayed financial, administrative, and institutional reforms. Finance Minister Yassin Jaber stated that approximately 200 million dollars is available in domestic funding for immediate post-war emergency needs, though the report indicates this sum represents only a small fraction of the country’s actual requirements. The study stressed that the challenge lies not only in securing financial resources but also in ensuring the state can manage available funds effectively and channel them towards sustainable economic recovery rather than short-term emergency responses.