Hezbollah disburses $400 million in aid after 15 months of devastating bombings

The Lebanese daily al-Akhbar, known for its ties to Hezbollah, has reported that the Shiite party has disbursed $400 million to over 140,000 individuals affected by Israeli bombings in southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley, and the southern suburbs of Beirut.

The bombings, which lasted more than 15 months, caused widespread destruction across the region.

According to sources cited by al-Akhbar, the funds were distributed within 55 days following the ceasefire, which took effect on November 27, 2024. Beneficiaries reportedly received payments an average of 10 days after damage assessments were validated. 

The compensation ranged from $2,860 to $14,000 per case, depending on the severity of the damage. Notably, these amounts cover housing and essential furnishings but exclude costs for reconstruction.

The effort is being managed by Jihad el-Bina', a prominent Hezbollah-affiliated foundation, alongside Qard el-Hassan, the party's microfinance organization. These entities have worked to expedite damage assessments and payment processes.

Jihad el-Bina' released a report indicating that by January 20, 2025, 268,317 housing units across 448 towns and villages had been documented for damage. This extensive operation involved 466 engineers and 149 employees responsible for electronically processing damage declarations.

In November 2024, Jihad el-Bina' estimated that 45,000 homes in Beirut's southern suburbs alone had been destroyed between October 2023 and October 2024, placing the damage at over $630 million. 

Meanwhile, the World Bank estimated the total cost of destruction from Israeli bombings at more than $3 billion by the end of October 2024.

The bombings were part of an escalation following the start of the Gaza War. The conflict has claimed the lives of over 4,000 people, further deepening the humanitarian crisis.

Hezbollah still possesses significant financial resources thanks to support from Iran, as well as drug trafficking and extortion, among other activities.