Despite repeated promises from successive governments, the Ministry of the Displaced remains operational, with plans for its closure yet to materialize. Now, with a new administration in power, the question resurfaces: could this long-standing goal be achieved within a year?
In this context, Kamal Shehadeh, Minister of the Displaced and Minister of State for Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence, confirmed that a plan is underway to definitively resolve this issue. "The state must honor its commitments to all those associated with this ministry as soon as possible," he stated. According to him, the plan includes dissolving the ministry and transferring its responsibilities to another department within the Lebanese administration.
In an interview with local TV channel MTV, Shehadeh emphasized that "the remaining cases concern those displaced during the 1975-1989 civil war." He noted that individuals affected by more recent conflicts, such as the Israeli war, fall under broader state assistance. He added, "A new mechanism should be established to oversee compensations and reconstruction efforts."
Concurrently, the minister addressed another governmental ambition: transforming Lebanon into an advanced digital platform. While acknowledging that this goal cannot be fully realized within a year, he emphasized, "We can lay the foundation now." Chéhadé believes that with the right strategies, Lebanon can become a digital hub in the region, leveraging artificial intelligence and modernizing public services.
To achieve this, a long-term strategy is essential. "Lebanese citizens must understand the importance of this transformation, which will take several years to complete," the minister stressed.
For now, the Ministry of the Displaced is working to finalize its remaining cases. Is its long-awaited closure finally approaching? The coming months will be decisive.
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