Posted on 09/12/2006 6:28:49 PM PDT by blam
Lebanese aid 'only reaching political supporters'
By Rania Abouzeid in Taibe
(Filed: 13/09/2006)
Hizbollah and its allies have been accused of favouring their supporters in the distribution of aid in southern Lebanon.
The radical Muslim movement, whose conflict with Israel saw Lebanese homes and infrastructure bear the brunt of the destruction, holds sway throughout most of the south.
But in many places it shares power on local municipal councils with its allies and Shia co-religionists in the Amal Movement, as well as the Communists.
Hizbollah has a long-held reputation among locals for honesty.
But the movement is now attracting complaints about its handling of the relief and reconstruction effort after the 34-day war.
The government has yet to honour its pledge to compensate those who have lost homes but Hizbollah started handing out cash a few days after a United Nations-brokered ceasefire on Aug 14.
"Some people are getting $2,000, others $8,000," said an unnamed villager in Taibe. "They determine what you need and that's what you get."
Most of the emergency aid in Taibe, a battle-scarred village about two miles from the Israeli border, comes from local and international groups and is handed to the council, which then distributes it.
Locals have complained that aid is being doled out on the basis of political favouritism, with Amal and Communist party supporters getting preference.
"Some people get a lot of aid and some get nothing," said Majid Rislan, 44, as he filled water bottles from a tank near his bombed house. "The aid goes to the council and then to the parties."
Abbas Diab, a local council member, said: "In Taibe, it's not the party that distributes. The aid comes to the council and we distribute it."
The UN is aware of complaints throughout the south, the group's spokesman in Lebanon said, but it is working through the local councils because they were "free and fairly elected".
"But I would not be shocked if some people were excluded because they belonged to one party or another," said Khaled Mansour.
Mr Rislan has yet to see any compensation money. "My problem is that I'm not affiliated with anyone," he said.
Well.... duh.
I'm shocked! SHOCKED!
And the world is surprised because.......
"Hizbollah has a long-held reputation among locals for honesty. "
Wassat?
Send them MORE money---right away.
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