Publication:
Beirut Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment

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dc.contributor.authorWorld Bank Group
dc.contributor.authorEuropean Union
dc.contributor.authorUnited Nations
dc.date.accessioned2020-08-31T15:09:20Z
dc.date.available2020-08-31T15:09:20Z
dc.date.issued2020-08-31
dc.description.abstractOn August 4, 2020, a massive explosion rocked the Port of Beirut (PoB), destroying much ofthe port and severely damaging dense residential and commercial areas within five kilometersof the site of the explosion. The disaster left more than 200 people dead, thousands injured, andmany homeless. Shocking pictures and videos from the Lebanese capital were shared widely acrossthe planet, showing a city in ruins and the suffering of those affected. Beyond the human tragedy, the economic impact of the explosion is notable at the national level despite the geographic concentration of the destruction. This reflects: (i) the demographic clustering of the Lebanese population in Beirut and its suburbs; (ii) the prominence of economic activity in the affected areas, especially in regard to commerce, real estate and tourism; and (iii) the fact that the PoB is the main point of entry/exit for the small open economy, channeling 68 percent (2011-2018 average) of the country’s total external trade. Even prior to the explosion, Lebanon was already reeling from multiple crises since 2011. These included: (i) spillovers from the conflict in Syria, which led Lebanon to host the largest refugee per capita population in the world; (ii) a financial and economic crisis that has induced systemic macrofinancial failures, including, impairment of the banking sector and risk of deposits; an exchange rate collapse; a default on sovereign debt; triple digit inflation rates; and a severe economic contraction; and (iii) impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic; Lebanon, not unlike other countries, responded with lockdowns that further exacerbated economic and financial stresses. The above add to long-term structural vulnerabilities that include low-grade infrastructure—a dysfunctional electricity sector, water supply shortages, inadequate solid waste and wastewater management—public financial mismanagement, large macroeconomic imbalances, and deteriorating social indicators. These vulnerabilities are taking place against the backdrop of high levels of corruption, political turmoil, and weak governance. Internationally, Lebanon was sub-optimally integrated into the global economy and global value chains, and the sizeable and persistent migration of highly educated human resources to foreign labor markets (brain drain) further contributed to poor productivity. As a result, the economy has struggled to reduce poverty and to generate inclusive growth, with job creation remaining weak and poorly distributed even during periods of high GDP growth. The long-run employment-growth elasticity is estimated to be 0.2,2 much lower than an estimated MENA average of 0.5.3 Meanwhile, the generated employment has been concentrated in low productivity activities as those involving higher productivity have not grown proportionally. Since foreign labor dominated low skilled (less productive) activities, high GDP growth rates have not translated into significant job creation for the Lebanese.en
dc.identifierhttp://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/191691598832635302/Beirut-Rapid-Damage-and-Needs-Assessment
dc.identifier.doi10.1596/34401
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10986/34401
dc.languageEnglish
dc.publisherWorld Bank, Washington, DC
dc.relation.ispartofseriesRapid Damage and Needs Assessment
dc.rightsCC BY 3.0 IGO
dc.rights.holderWorld Bank
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo
dc.subjectDAMAGE AND NEEDS ASSESSMENT
dc.subjectCONFLICT-AFFECTED STATES
dc.subjectSTAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
dc.subjectDISASTER LOSSES
dc.subjectRECOVERY
dc.subjectRECONSTRUCTION
dc.subjectMACROECONOMIC IMPACT
dc.subjectSOCIAL SECTORS
dc.subjectINFRASTRUCTURE
dc.subjectFINANCIAL SECTOR
dc.subjectPRODUCTIVE SECTOR
dc.subjectSOCIAL INCLUSION
dc.subjectPOVERTY
dc.subjectGOVERNANCE
dc.subjectENVIRONMENT
dc.titleBeirut Rapid Damage and Needs Assessmenten
dc.typeReporten
dc.typeRapportfr
dc.typeInformees
dspace.entity.typePublication
okr.crossref.titleBeirut Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment
okr.date.disclosure2020-08-30
okr.date.doiregistration2025-04-07T08:15:48.954997Z
okr.date.doiregistration2025-04-08T16:07:01.997932Z
okr.date.doiregistration2025-04-09T02:48:34.592489Z
okr.doctypeEconomic & Sector Work
okr.doctypeEconomic & Sector Work::Risk and Vulnerability Assessment
okr.docurlhttp://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/191691598832635302/Beirut-Rapid-Damage-and-Needs-Assessment
okr.guid191691598832635302
okr.identifier.doi10.1596/34401
okr.identifier.externaldocumentum090224b087d31a19_1_0
okr.identifier.internaldocumentum32364952
okr.identifier.report152284
okr.importedtrueen
okr.language.supporteden
okr.pdfurlhttp://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/191691598832635302/pdf/Beirut-Rapid-Damage-and-Needs-Assessment.pdfen
okr.region.administrativeMiddle East and North Africa
okr.region.countryLebanon
okr.topicConflict and Development::Conflict and Fragile States
okr.topicConflict and Development::Disaster Management
okr.topicPoverty Reduction::Poverty Monitoring & Analysis
okr.topicSocial Development::Social Inclusion & Institutions
okr.topicSocial Protections and Labor::Social Protections & Assistance
okr.topicPublic Sector Development::Public Sector Economics
okr.topicUrban Development::Hazard Risk Management
okr.unitUrban MNA (SMNUR)
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