Lebanese Prime Minister: Security and safety are key to the return of southerners - Sarmad
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam confirmed on Friday that security and stability are the foundation for the return of southerners, announcing the launch of 23 tenders for projects in the Nabatieh district in southern Lebanon.
Speaking during his visit to the city of Nabatieh, Salam said, “I am returning to Nabatieh for the third time since the formation of our government, as an expression of commitment that I wanted to translate into follow-up and action.”
He noted that the government has worked with international institutions to secure the necessary resources to launch the recovery and reconstruction process, which had been initiated months earlier after securing “the first package of funding, paving the way for transitioning from needs assessment to implementation.”
He emphasized that his presence was intended to reaffirm the return of state institutions to their operations, describing them as “an essential part of restoring life to this beloved city, and they will serve to support the resilience of its kind residents and consolidate their presence on their land.”
He pointed out that the projects launched today might be limited relative to the scale of needs in Nabatieh and the south, clarifying that the magnitude of requirements exceeds the capabilities of the Lebanese state and its capacity to bear these burdens alone, necessitating substantial funding.
He stated, “Your priorities will remain our priorities: halting Israeli aggression, Israel’s complete withdrawal from our territories, the safe and dignified return of people to their homes, the restoration of their livelihoods, and the restoration of life to the cities, towns, and villages of the south.”
He added, “Our true guarantee lies in our continued efforts to mobilize all possible resources and support to achieve Israel’s complete withdrawal and to rebuild a capable and effective state—a single state for all its citizens, with one army and one decision, particularly regarding war and peace.” He stressed that “this is the path to avoid finding ourselves once again facing a new war, new excuses for aggression against Lebanon, or new expansions of the occupation.”
He continued, “As for suggesting that we can wait for a major regional settlement, this is not an option for Lebanon in my view, because such a settlement may or may not come, or it may be delayed for years, and if it does occur, it might come at our expense.”
He noted that the presence of Finance Minister Yassin Jaber, Minister of State for Administrative Reform Mohammed Haidar, Minister of Interior and Municipalities Ahmad al-Hajjar, and security leaders during the visit was intended to underscore the role of security forces and enhance their presence and capacity to fulfill their duties.
Earlier, in September, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun visited the city of Nabatieh, at which time he affirmed the state’s support for the people of the south and its assistance to them.
