Rubble Removal and Reconstruction Reform
Tracker[1]
Reform
Area: Rubble Removal and Reconstruction
Last Updated: November 2025
Citizen Impact Summary
Dimension
Snapshot
Source
Who
Is Affected?
Over 100,000
residents displaced, 53,000 housing units fully destroyed, 127,000 severely
damaged, and 317,000 partially damaged; entire southern border villages
(e.g., Houla, Aita al-Shaab, Ramiyeh) saw 70–90% destruction. Public schools,
municipal buildings, health centers, and water/electric networks are
non-functional.
CDW Policy Brief (AUB Nature Center, Nov.
2024);
UN Debris Taskforce Statement (May 2025); Council of the South, “An-Nahar”, 20 April
2025;
World Bank RDNA 2025; Mohammad Chamseddine interview, Manaaṭeq Net;
Financial
Burden?
Total damage: ~$11
billion; housing: $7B, infrastructure: $1B, rubble removal: $35M; WB approved
$250M (loan/grant mix), covering <3% of needs; no Gulf or EU pledges yet.
Lebanon’s Rubble Crisis: A Choice Between
Environmental Rehabilitation and Irreversible Damage; UN Debris Taskforce Statement (May 2025); Council of the South, “An-Nahar”, 20 April
2025;
WB RDNA 2025; Khaled Abou Chakra interview, Manaaṭeq Net,
July 2025
Public
Services?
Water, electricity, schools, and roads remain disrupted;
e.g., Houla residents rely on trucked water at $30/20 barrels, schools
demolished; rubble blocks access and delays service restoration.
3RF Recovery
Framework for Beirut and Lebanon (2023–2024); Interviews with Houla and Meiss el-Jabal
mayors, Manaaṭeq Net, July 2025
Mental Health Toll?
Severe trauma due to
displacement, UXO risks, and slow debris removal; families live amid toxic
rubble, asbestos, and sea dumping; community frustration rising over lack of
state-led reconstruction.
Addressing the Impact of the 2024 War and
Promoting Sustainable Practices for Debris Removal in Lebanon; 3RF
Recovery Framework for Beirut and Lebanon (2023–2024); CDW Policy Brief (AUB Nature Center, Nov.
2024);
UN Debris Taskforce Statement (May 2025); Najat Saliba interview, Manaaṭeq Net, July
2025
Overview & Objectives
Goal
To remove and manage
an estimated 50–100 million tons of rubble in a safe, sustainable, inclusive,
and accountable manner—while restoring state legitimacy and social trust.
Strategic
Importance
This reform is
pivotal for environmental recovery, public health, infrastructure
restoration, and a cornerstone of national recovery and reconciliation, as
emphasized in the 2025 ministerial statement.
Key
Reform Priorities
1. Operationalize
“Law on Exemptions & Reconstruction of Demolished Buildings” (July 2025),
includes tax/service exemptions and conditional assistance.
2. Centralize
rubble removal governance under a single authority to replace fragmented
mandates.
3. Enforce
environmental and UXO protocols for rubble removal and prevent illegal sea
dumping.
4. Activate
Reconstruction Fund and donor pipeline beyond WB’s $250M symbolic financing.
5. Embed
municipal and CSO-led initiatives into the national reconstruction plan.
Reform Actions & StatusSpecific Reform Actions & Accountability
Reform
Action Required
Current Status
Lead Authority
Implementing Body
Oversight / Supporting Actors
Primary Source
Establish
Transparent Reconstruction Fund
Operationalization advanced: CDR opened multiple LEAP procurement
files end-Sept through Oct 2025, including EOIs and ToRs for
World-Bank-financed consultancy packages, signaling the move from preparation
to execution.
PMO (strategic
guidance)
CDR implementing, MoPWT execution lead, MoE environmental
oversight
WB to recruit lender’s engineer for enhanced due diligence
incl. AML/CFT
World
Bank PR, Jun 25, 2025; Loan-signing
reports, Aug 26, 2025; CDR
2025; CDR
& LEAP 2025; CDR 2025
Implement
Law on Exemptions & Demolished Buildings
Law passed July 2025; includes tax/service exemptions, conditional
financial aid, and duty-free vehicle replacement.
Parliament / MoF
MoF, Municipalities
Council of Ministers
Manaaṭeq Net
Central
Oversight for Rubble Removal
CDR’s public procurement postings for LEAP in late Sept–Oct 2025
confirm CDR as implementing agency under WB IPF rules, with MoPWT/MoE
counterparts
PMO / CoM
CDR, MoPWT
MoE; WB lender’s
engineer for compliance
Najat Saliba interview, Manaaṭeq Net, July
2025; World
Bank PR, Jun 25, 2025; Loan-signing
reports, Aug 26, 2025; CDR
2025; CDR
& LEAP 2025; CDR 2025
Make MoE Guidelines Legally Binding
Weak compliance: sea dumping at Costa Brava, minimal sorting, no full
EIA enforcement
Ministry of
Environment
Contractors,
Municipalities
UN Debris Taskforce, Central Inspection
MoE
Presentation, Feb 2025; Najat Saliba interview, Manaaṭeq Net, July
2025
Mandate
Use of Quarries for Disposal
Weak enforcement
– dumping continues in unregulated coastal and valley sites; quarry
rehabilitation remains largely voluntary. MoE oversight is embedded in LEAP’s
E&S arrangements, with WB-supervised compliance, but national binding
force of earlier circulars still requires decree.
Ministry of
Environment
Contractors
MoE, Environment
Police
Youth4Governance
Policy Brief, Feb 2025; World
Bank PR, Jun 25, 2025; Loan-signing
reports, Aug 26, 2025
Establish
National CDW Database
Proposed –
identified as a priority in MoE’s 2025 action plan; no operational system
yet.
Ministry of
Environment
MoE
PCM, Municipalities
MoE
Presentation, Feb 2025
Transparent
Contractor Framework
Partial: Beta & EMC contracts signed at $5.01 urban / $3.65 rural
per m³; informal scrap incentives persist. Future procurements under
LEAP will operate within WB procurement and enhanced due-diligence regime,
including third-party lender’s engineer oversight.
Council of the
South
Contractors, local subcontractors
Municipalities,
Media
Manaaṭeq
Net, July 2025; World
Bank PR, Jun 25, 2025; Loan-signing
reports, Aug 26, 2025
EIA
Screening Compliance for Contractors
MoE Circular issued, non-binding – contractors are not legally obligated to
follow EIA compliance; screening forms exist but lack enforcement.
Ministry of
Environment
Contractors
MoPWT, MoF,
Procurement Units
MoE
Presentation, Feb 2025
Hazardous
Material Protocols (Asbestos, UXO, etc.)
Guidelines exist,
not enforced – security and health risks persist due to
unclear implementation mechanisms for hazardous material detection and
separation.
MoE, LAF
Security Forces, Contractors
MoPH, UN agencies
CDW Policy Brief (AUB Nature Center, Nov.
2024)
Develop
Circular Recycling Infrastructure
Not systematized
– pilot efforts exist but no formal circular economy policy has been
implemented for CDW.
Ministry of
Environment
Private Sector, Municipalities
AUB, CDR, World Bank, EU Delegation
CDW Policy Brief (AUB Nature Center, Nov.
2024)
Integrate
Municipal & CSO Reconstruction Initiatives
Ongoing ad hoc:
Houla & Meiss el-Jabal lead self-funded water & solar recovery
Municipalities
Local CSOs, Diaspora
UNIFIL, NGOs
Municipal
interviews, Manaaṭeq Net
Reform Roadmap Timeline & Critical PathRecent Milestone
Recent Milestone
Date
What Happened
Status on Critical Path
Source
CDR launches LEAP procurement packages
30 Sep–22 Oct 2025
EOIs/ToRs for
consulting services published under WB IPF regulations, marking the shift to
implementation
Procurement
kick-off.
CDR
2025; CDR
& LEAP 2025; CDR 2025
WB Board approves LEAP US$250M
25 Jun 2025
Approval of scalable
US$1B framework covering urgent infrastructure repair and sustainable rubble
management
Funding Initiated
World
Bank PR, Jun 25, 2025; Loan-signing
reports, Aug 26, 2025
Government signs WB loan agreement (LEAP)
26 Aug 2025
Financing agreement
signed in Beirut, authorities highlight intent to channel funds to
multi-sector infrastructure works
Financing
Effectuation Step
World
Bank PR, Jun 25, 2025; Loan-signing
reports, Aug 26, 2025
Law on Exemptions & Demolished Buildings passed
1 July 2025
Property-focused law
enacted; provides tax/service exemptions and conditional financial assistance
Core Legal Milestone
WB
RDNA 2025; Public Works Studio July 2025
WB approves $250M loan
25 June 2025
Initial symbolic
financing for rubble removal & infrastructure repair
Funding Initiated
WB
Press Release
Council of South contracts awarded
17 Feb 2025
Beta & EMC begin
rubble removal; subcontract to village operators
Operational Start
Manaaṭeq
Net
Rubble pricing set
April 2025
$3.65/m³
rural & $5.01/m³ urban formalized
Financial Terms
Finalized
Council
of South
PM announces donor conference initiative
June 2025
PM Salam announced
plans for donor conference focused on reconstruction and strategic investment
Roadmap Under
Preparation
PM Speech, 10
June 2025
Draft compensation law submitted to Parliament
June 2025
Government
submitted draft compensation law to Parliament covering tax/service fee
exemptions for affected residents
PM Speech, 10
June 2025
MoE Circular on War Debris Guidelines
Dec 2024
The Ministry of
Environment issued a circular providing guidelines for managing war-generated
rubble, recommending disposal in environmentally degraded sites, particularly
quarries. However, this circular remains non-binding.
Lacks enforcement
Youth4Governance
Policy Brief, Feb 2025
Gov’t
approval of Solid Waste Authority
Jan 2024
The Council of
Ministers approved the organizational decree under Law 80 (2018) to establish
the National Solid Waste Management Authority, aiming to centralize waste
management efforts.
Partial progress
Law No.80 of 2018 on Integrated Solid Waste
Management
World Bank Presents Reconstruction Project
March 2025
The World Bank
introduced a $1 billion reconstruction project to Prime Minister Nawaf Salam,
including a $250 million loan for initial reconstruction efforts.
Initiated Funding Process
OLJ News Report
UN Launches Debris Taskforce
May 2025
The United Nations
established a Debris Taskforce in Lebanon to manage rubble removal with a
focus on sustainability and rights-based approaches.
Enhanced Coordination
UN
Sustainable Development Group
Mobilize South Lebanon Council for debris ops
March–May 2025
Operational in
South, Bekaa, Nabatieh; 80% damage survey completed; 2-month deadline for
contractors to clear 35K units
Operational Execution
Council of the South, "An-Nahar",
20 April 2025
Set rubble pricing and contractor terms
April 2025
Official rate set at
$3.65/m³ rural and $5.01/m³ urban; contracts underway
Financial Terms Finalized
Council of the South, "An-Nahar",
20 April 2025
Next Steps – Transparency and
Accountability Calendar
Action
Responsible
Entity
Target
Date
Source
Publish
LEAP governance note, procurement plan, and E&S oversight modality: Align with WB’s enhanced
due-diligence and AML/CFT measures
CDR + MoPWT + MoE
Q4 2025
World
Bank PR, Jun 25, 2025; Loan-signing
reports, Aug 26, 2025
Paris-led
donor engagements for reconstruction: conditional on reforms - French diplomacy indicates conferences
when “appropriate conditions are met.”
PMO / France
TBC
L’Orient Le Jour, Sept. 2025
Issue
implementing decrees for “Law on Exemptions & Reconstruction of
Demolished Buildings” (July 2025)
CoM + MoF + Parliament
Q3 2025
WB
RDNA 2025
Finalize
valuation and survey mechanism for affected properties
MoF + HRC + Council of the South
Q3 2025
Youth4Governance
Policy Brief, Feb 2025
Publish
criteria and process for conditional financial aid (property-focused)
MoF + Municipalities
Q3 2025
Public Works Studio July 2025; Manaaṭeq
Net
Operationalize
Reconstruction Fund & Board
CoM + MoF + Parliament
Q3 2025
Public Works Studio July 2025; Manaaṭeq
Net
Hold
International Reconstruction Donor Conference
Prime Minister’s Office
PM Speech, June 2025
Approve
legal framework for compensation and service fee exemptions
Parliament
PM Speech, 10
June 2025; Al Modon, June 2025
Establish
legal basis and governance framework for Reconstruction Fund
Council of Ministers + Parliament
-
Ministerial
Statement, 25 Feb 2025
Amend
Decision 4/12/2024 to create oversight body
Council of Ministers
-
Youth4Governance
Policy Brief, Feb 2025
Issue decree making MoE guidelines binding
MoE + Council of
Ministers
-
MoE
Presentation, Feb 2025
Launch
CDW database & public dashboard
MoE + Municipalities
-
MoE
Presentation, Feb 2025
Legal
amendment to link Law 444/2002 to CDW violations
Parliament
-
Youth4Governance
Policy Brief, Feb 2025
Finalize
National Rubble Management Policy
Prime Minister’s Office
-
Youth4Governance
Policy Brief, Feb 2025
Public
Disclosure of Reconstruction Contracts
Court of Audit
-
News Report
Launch
of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA)
Ministry of Environment
-
Public
Works Studio Report, May 2025
Implementation Bottlenecks & Required Actions
Bottleneck
Official Explanation
Required Immediate Action
Source
Incomplete
damage valuation framework
No standardized law
or formula exists to determine compensation; surveys exist, but payout
mechanisms stalled
Finalize law, issue
implementing decrees, publish regional damage cost tables
Al Modon, June 2025
Government
reconstruction efforts trail CSO initiatives
CSOs have outpaced
the government in rebuilding homes; state risks losing credibility and
coordination
Launch national
housing plan with timeline and funding strategy
PM Speech; Al Modon, June 2025
No
EIA-linked enforcement of contractor actions
Contractors avoid
UXO detection, environmental separation due to lax oversight
Mandate
environmental audits, enforce via MoE, LAF, UNDP joint protocols
UN Debris Taskforce Statement (May 2025); Council of the South, "An-Nahar",
20 April 2025
No
designated treatment sites in some areas
Temporary dumping
sites approved; final environmental screening pending
Finalize vetting of
sites (e.g. Cana, Naqoura); enforce site-specific disposal protocols
UN Debris Taskforce Statement
(May 2025)
Rubble
with iron prioritized by contractors
Contractors
cherry-pick recyclable debris, leaving hazardous rubble untreated
Supervise rubble
sorting at source; enforce equal removal of all CDW categories
UN Debris Taskforce Statement (May 2025); Council of the South, "An-Nahar",
20 April 2025
No
dedicated reconstruction fund
Fund is politically
committed but not yet established; legal and fiscal framework needed.
Issue decree to
establish fund and governance board; pass enabling legislation in Parliament
Ministerial
Statement, 25 Feb 2025
No Enforcement of MoE Guidelines
MoE issued a
circular on December 4, 2024, but it lacks legal force. The guidelines are
not binding and not incorporated in current contracts. MoE lacks enforcement
power or legal mandate to penalize non-compliance.
Link to Law 444/2002, make it enforceable
Youth4Governance
Policy Brief, Feb 2025
Lack
of Centralized Coordination/Dispersed Mandates among Actors
No central authority
exists. The Council of Ministers delegated responsibilities to several
entities (MoE, MoIM, HRC, municipalities) without a unifying strategy,
leading to fragmented execution.
Establish a
centralized authority or task force to oversee and coordinate all rubble
removal and reconstruction activities, ensuring adherence to national
standards and efficient resource utilization.
Youth4Governance
Policy Brief, Feb 2025
Contractors
dictate disposal by convenience/Absence of contractor
compliance audits.
Contractors decide
disposal routes post-contract due to lack of monitoring or compliance audits.
Procurement mechanisms do not embed MoE guidelines or environmental
safeguards effectively. No monitoring of environmental safeguards in awarded
contracts.
Embed MoE standards
in tenders and monitor execution. Empower oversight bodies to audit tender
execution, enforce sanctions.
Youth4Governance
Policy Brief, Feb 2025; LCPS-TI Reform Monitor
Stakeholders & Roles
Entity
Core Function
Primary Contact Point
Ministry
of Environment
Policy, guidelines, EIA, environmental monitoring
Environment Directorate
Ministry
of Public Works
Infrastructure rehabilitation, permitting
CDW Technical Committee
Council
of Ministers
Coordination, policy setting, regulatory reform
Secretary General
Higher
Relief Council
Emergency rubble response, fund allocation
President of the HRC
South
Lebanon Council
Local rubble clearance and contractor coordination
Southern
Suburb Union of Municipalities
Manages disposal
sites independently of MoE
Municipalities
Local implementation and oversight
Union of Municipalities
Environment
Police
Intended oversight role; lacks mandate and resources
Lebanese
Armed Forces
UXO removal, debris site security
Army Engineering Command
UN
Debris Taskforce
Inter-agency coordination on CDW; standards, EIA,
rights-based recovery
UN Resident Coordinator
Donors
(EU, WB, UNDP)
Technical, financial support
Lebanon Recovery Platform
Legal & Policy Framework
Instrument
Status
Key Provisions
Implementation Note
Circular No. 6/1 (MoE, 2024)
In force (non-binding)
Provides environmental guidelines for rubble handling,
including mandatory use of quarries, hazardous material separation, and reuse
of debris
Requires legal decree or regulatory amendment to be
binding
Law
No. 444/2002 (Environment)
In force
Establishes environmental protection and penalties for
pollution
Needs linkage to CDW violations
Law
No. 80/2018 (Solid Waste)
Partially operational
Calls for integrated solid waste management and authority
CoM decree approved
in Jan 2024
MoE Circular on CDW (Dec 2024)
Advisory only
Guidelines on disposal, quarry use, hazard handling
Requires decree to be binding
Decision
4/12/2024
In effect
Delegates removal mandates, lacks coordination or
enforcement tools
Needs amendment for centralized authority
Decree
No. 5605/2019
In force
Governs hazardous waste separation and disposal
Referenced in MoE’s
CDW guidelines
Decree
No. 5606/2019
In force
Enforces sorting of waste at the source
Needed to operationalize rubble sorting procedures
Law
No. 64/1988
In force
Regulates hazardous and toxic waste
Applicable to asbestos, UXO, and chemical debris
Official Sources and Reference Materials
Instrument
Source
Ministerial Statement (25 Feb 2025)
Ministerial
Statement, 25 Feb 2025
CDW Policy Brief (AUB Nature Center, Nov. 2024)
CDW Policy Brief (AUB Nature Center, Nov.
2024)
MoE Presentation on
Debris Management (Feb. 2025)
MoE
Presentation, Feb 2025
Youth4Governance Policy Brief (Feb 2025)
Youth4Governance
Policy Brief, Feb 2025
3RF Recovery Framework for Beirut and Lebanon (2023–2024)
3RF Recovery
Framework for Beirut and Lebanon (2023–2024)
List of Acronyms – Rubble Removal and
Reconstruction Reform Tracker
Acronym
Full Form
CDW
Construction and Demolition Waste
CDR
Council for Development and Reconstruction
CoM
Council of Ministers
EIA
Environmental Impact Assessment
EU
European Union
HRC
Higher Relief Council
LAF
Lebanese Armed Forces
LCPS
Lebanese Center for Policy Studies
MoE
Ministry of Environment
MoF
Ministry of Finance
MoIM
Ministry of Interior and Municipalities
MoPWT
Ministry of Public Works and Transport
MoPH
Ministry of Public Health
NGO
Non-Governmental Organization
PCM
Presidency of the Council of Ministers
PMO
Prime Minister’s Office
SOGIESC
Sexual Orientation,
Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics (Used in other trackers – anticipate use)
UN
United Nations
UNDP
United Nations
Development Programme
UXO
Unexploded Ordnance
WB
World Bank
3RF
Reform, Recovery and Reconstruction Framework
[1] All reform data presented
here is based on official Lebanese government sources, such as laws, decrees,
strategies, and verified public data. Where possible, each update is linked to
a document, gazette entry, or institutional publication.