I’m in a coffee house in Baalbek to meet Mr Ahmad Rayya, who is a senior figure in Hizbollah and the spokesman for the local district. Baalbek has suffered badly from Israeli air strikes, and the evidence is all around us. Our journey here has taken us passed numerous bombsites where shopkeepers and homeowners toil in the dust and rubble to salvage items in preparation for clearance and rebuilding. The backdrop of Baalbeck’s ancient Roman ruins seems strangely in keeping with the destruction below. I start by asking him to summarise the cost of the war to the area.
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‘Here one hundred and thirty three martyrs were murdered by the barbaric Zionist assault; three of them were Hizbollah, the rest civilians. A further three hundred and ten civilians were injured. Not once did they hit a military target – the areas targeted were civilian and residential. After its failure in military confrontations, the enemy has focused its attacks on innocent people searching for any victory and believe me, it’s a bloodthirsty enemy who is fuelled by the blood of innocents.’
‘The total cost of Israeli aggression in the Bekka region has cost the total destruction of 300 residential units and the partial destruction of 1470 more. Also destroyed are 15 fuel stations, 5 large factories, 15 parks and 30 bridges. The objective of Israel’s military operation was to surround and divide so that people would surrender. There have been massacres in villages and towns like Britel, Ali el Nahri, El Kaa, Baalbeck and Jammalieh. All this has done is to make people insist on carrying on with the resistance against the aggression. Only around ten percent of our people left during the war. We received around 61,000 refugees from the South and South Beirut.’
So what is the effect on the wider local economy?
‘This time of year is the beginning of the agricultural season, but the war has caused huge damage to production with people being absent from work. Our other main source of income was tourism, with thousands of people coming here to visit the ancient ruins.’
What plans now for reconstruction?
‘Hizbollah announced the reconstruction and rehabilitation plan on Monday 14th of August. Initially each homeowner will receive $12,000 so they can buy furniture and rent a home until the programme has achieved its goals. Supporters of the resistance and volunteers from all levels are warmly invited to participate. Everyone is welcome to help in whatever way they can. We are presently receiving support and cooperation from across the world. Quatar for example has pledged to rebuild Bent Jbeil and 7 other villages.
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‘The total cost of Israeli aggression in the Bekka region has cost the total destruction of 300 residential units and the partial destruction of 1470 more. Also destroyed are 15 fuel stations, 5 large factories, 15 parks and 30 bridges. The objective of Israel’s military operation was to surround and divide so that people would surrender. There have been massacres in villages and towns like Britel, Ali el Nahri, El Kaa, Baalbeck and Jammalieh. All this has done is to make people insist on carrying on with the resistance against the aggression. Only around ten percent of our people left during the war. We received around 61,000 refugees from the South and South Beirut.’
So what is the effect on the wider local economy?
‘This time of year is the beginning of the agricultural season, but the war has caused huge damage to production with people being absent from work. Our other main source of income was tourism, with thousands of people coming here to visit the ancient ruins.’
What plans now for reconstruction?
‘Hizbollah announced the reconstruction and rehabilitation plan on Monday 14th of August. Initially each homeowner will receive $12,000 so they can buy furniture and rent a home until the programme has achieved its goals. Supporters of the resistance and volunteers from all levels are warmly invited to participate. Everyone is welcome to help in whatever way they can. We are presently receiving support and cooperation from across the world. Quatar for example has pledged to rebuild Bent Jbeil and 7 other villages.
Words and pictures copyright the author but free to progressive media, NGOs etc.
Contact by email for details.
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