Water, agricultural, electrical and fears of financial collapse in the water sector

Fouad Bazzi wrote in “Al -Akhbar”: The Israeli Adwan has continued since 2023 to a comprehensive destruction of water infrastructure south of the Litani River, especially within the scale of 5 km from the border, where pumping stations, tanks, pipeline networks, and solar energy projects were systematically targeted, causing more than 700 thousand people to deprive from drinking water and basic agricultural services. According to the reports of international organizations, including “Oxfam”, “Astwa” and “UNICEF”, the value of direct damage amounted to $ 171 million, including:

140 million dollars costs network rehabilitation.- 24 million dollars as additional operating dealers. – 7 million dollars, as direct losses to institutions due to the exemption of citizens from paying bills. The agricultural sector was also severely damaged, especially with the water interruption from the Qasimiya project, which was narrating 6 thousand hectares of crops, which threatens continuous seasonal economic disasters.
In parallel to Al -Adwan, the Lebanese state failed to provide financial support or urgent qualification plans. The South Lebanon Water Corporation, affected by more than 100 million dollars, has become unable to repair networks and is totally dependent on donors (such as UNDP and the International Red Cross). The irony is that exempting citizens from subscription fees, despite being a human justification, deprived the institution of its operational resources.
According to the “Oxfam” report, this reality will destabilize water security for the coming years, especially with the forced dependence on water tanks of $ 15 for the tank, or 10 times the official price, which exhausts families and prevents justice in the distribution of resources. The report also warned that official institutions will enter the state of “unaware water for income”, where government revenues retreat while The operational cost rises, which threatens a gradual financial collapse in the water sector, and exacerbates the general deficit.
Samer Al -Husseini wrote in “Al -Akhbar”: In light of the “drought disaster” that strikes Lebanon, the country is witnessing an unprecedented collapse in its water, agricultural and electrical resources, where Lake Qaraoun lost 60% of its stock within one year, which led to a complete stoppage of electrical energy generation since August 2025. This sharp decline is the worst since 1932, and reflects a structural crisis, not circumstantial, The descendants did not exceed 40% of the annual average, amid the absence of effective water and agricultural management policies.
The financial and economic situation in agricultural areas is deteriorating, with about 70% of potato farmers from agriculture in the Bekaa, and more than 100,000 tons of non -marketed crops. The ability of irrigation in the south also decreased, threatening citrus and bananas crops, at a time when the underground stock is witnessing a catastrophic decrease (80% in some areas), threatening soil salinity and high irrigation cost, and deepens the economic crisis of farmers. Experts warn that the continuation of this acute climate style may lead to a comprehensive national crisis, if immediate measures that include water management, rationalization of consumption, and sanitation treatment are not taken.