The U.S. Government-funded Humanitarian Assistance for Lebanon (HAL) program aims to provide life saving humanitarian assistance to families who suffered from the latest crisis in Lebanon. The program activities have three objectives:
- The water, sanitation and hygiene objective which increases access of Internally Displaced Persons to healthy options as they return to their homes and villages. This is accomplished through the provision of potable water, irrigation, and hygiene education promotion materials.
- The food security and agriculture/ Income Generation objective which aims at quickly harvesting apples through increased income generation opportunities for individuals who are currently unemployed.
- The health objective which provides access to proper health care services for newly disabled persons in Southern Lebanon, as well as disabled persons from other regions in the country.
More than 46,000 beneficiaries are targeted under HAL program.
During the conflict last summer, the Litany Irrigation Water Scheme (consisting of irrigation canals, bridges, culverts and pumping stations of Qasmieh/Ras El-Ain) was severely damaged. The damage obstructed the water from reaching the orchards and destroyed the agricultural seasons. In coordination with the Litany River Authority, CHF reconstructed Nahr Al-Shita Bridge in the Markaba region of West Bekaa under the USAID-funded HAL program.
Located on the Litany River, Nahr Al Shita Bridge is considered a strategic link between Markaba and other villages in Western Bekaa. Its reconstruction helps villagers and returnees reestablish access between and among their villages. Under the HAL program, CHF is also reconstructing nine culverts, two siphons, and irrigation canals as well as building a new pumping station in Qasmieh and rehabilitating the existing pumping station and administration building. As part of repairing the Litany Irrigation Water Scheme, 43,000 people in more than 20 villages will benefit from the provision of proper access to irrigation water as well as appropriate access to roads and bridges.