BEIRUT (The Pak Global Pakistan) – Qatar has announced a major multi-million dollar aid package for Lebanon, aimed primarily at supporting the country’s struggling electricity sector, as Beirut continues to battle an economic crisis and deteriorating infrastructure.
According to the Qatar Development Fund, the total assistance package is valued at approximately $430 million, with the majority of the funds directed toward stabilising Lebanon’s energy sector. The initiative is expected to benefit around 1.5 million people across the country.
The fund confirmed that up to $400 million will be dedicated specifically to energy support, with 10 percent of the amount provided as a grant. Additionally, Qatari Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mohammed al-Khulaifi announced a separate $40 million grant during a press conference in Beirut to further support Lebanon’s electricity sector.
Lebanon’s power sector has long been a major burden on the national economy, costing the country more than $40 billion since the end of its civil war in 1990. Successive governments have struggled to modernise the sector or reduce heavy financial losses caused by outdated infrastructure. Last year, Lebanon also secured a $250 million agreement with the World Bank to help reform and modernise the energy system.
Support for Syrian Refugee Return
As part of the broader aid package, Khulaifi also announced the launch of a new project aimed at supporting the voluntary and safe return of Syrian refugees from Lebanon to Syria, in cooperation with the United Nations migration agency.
The first phase of the project is valued at $20 million and will target around 100,000 people. The assistance will help returning families secure housing in Syria and provide essential support, including food and medical supplies for three months after their return, to help them reintegrate into their communities.
According to the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR), more than 500,000 Syrians returned to Syria from Lebanon last year, although an additional 115,000 refugees have arrived in Lebanon since the removal of former Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.
Currently, around one million Syrian refugees remain in Lebanon, placing further pressure on the country’s fragile economy. Lebanese authorities have repeatedly called on the international community to assist in facilitating refugee returns, especially since Lebanon’s economic collapse began in late 2019 and global aid levels have declined.
Qatar has been one of Lebanon’s key supporters over the years, providing significant assistance to the Lebanese army, including funding for soldiers’ salaries. Doha is also a major backer of Syria’s new leadership, with Qatari companies signing major contracts in Syria across sectors such as energy, electricity, and transport.