(1/5) #Lebanon has been in lockdown for nearly a month. But the government has yet to distribute assistance to families in need. A week ago, Social Affairs Minister launched a plan to provide 400,000 LBP (≈$140) to 187,000 families. This aid was supposed to be disbursed today.

(2/5) The govt discovered "errors" in the lists of families, so they asked army to recheck the lists. Social Affairs minister had promised that selection criteria would be transparent & applied by an algorithm so not susceptible to political manipulation. http://nna-leb.gov.lb/ar/show-news/473410/">https://nna-leb.gov.lb/ar/show-n...

(3/5) But politicians from different parties have criticized the criteria by which families were chosen, delaying the process. Shameful that politicians are capitalizing on people& #39;s desperation to further their patronage networks. https://www.vdlnews.com/news/16618 ">https://www.vdlnews.com/news/1661...

(4/5) Last week, @hrw warned that more than a million in #Lebanon are at risk of going hungry due to pandemic-related lockdown measures unless the government urgently puts in place a robust, coordinated plan to provide assistance. https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/04/08/lebanon-direct-covid-19-assistance-hardest-hit">https://www.hrw.org/news/2020...

(5/5) As families face unprecedented economic hardship, the #Lebanon govt should prioritize ppl& #39;s basic needs over political maneuvering:
- disburse funds now, verify later
- clear, public selection criteria
- forgive utility bills
- moratorium on evictions