Qatar unveiled a $420 million support package for Lebanon that includes a $40 million grant for the power sector, a $360 million project benefiting 1.5 million electricity subscribers, and $20 million to support the return of up to 100,000 Syrian refugees. The package also funds 185 scholarships, a youth sports program for 4,400 children, and reconstruction of a Beirut public hospital destroyed in 2020. Doha reaffirmed backing for the Lebanese Army and said the assistance could attract further Gulf investment while coordinating with the U.S. on implementing the November 2027 cease-fire.
Qatar Announces $420M Support Package to Rebuild Lebanon’s Power Sector and Back Refugee Returns
Doha has unveiled a multi-faceted assistance package designed to stabilize Lebanon’s battered electricity system, support social and health reconstruction, and facilitate the organized return of Syrian refugees, Qatari Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi said Monday after meetings with senior Lebanese officials in Beirut.
“It is time for Lebanon to recover and move forward on a path of progress and development,” Al-Khulaifi said following talks with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and other leaders.
Major Financial Measures for Power and Infrastructure
Al-Khulaifi detailed a package that includes a $40 million grant specifically for the electricity sector and a separate $360 million economic project intended to benefit roughly 1.5 million electricity subscribers across Lebanon. The measures aim to reduce frequent blackouts that force households and businesses to rely on costly private generators after years of underinvestment and the economic collapse that began in 2019.
Social, Health and Education Initiatives
Doha also pledged targeted social investments: 185 scholarships for Lebanese students over three years and a “Sport for Development and Peace” program expected to reach about 4,400 children and young people in conflict-affected areas, with goals of reducing violence and strengthening community resilience. Qatar will finance the reconstruction of a public hospital in Beirut destroyed in the 2020 port explosion, with additional health projects under review.
Refugee Return and Humanitarian Support
On the refugee front, Qatar committed $20 million to facilitate the return of up to 100,000 Syrian refugees from Lebanon, covering housing, food and medical assistance for returnees. Lebanese officials say the country hosts about 1.5 million Syrian refugees overall, with the government reporting roughly half a million returns to Syria in 2025.
Security and Regional Coordination
Al-Khulaifi reaffirmed Qatar’s financial and military support for the Lebanese Army, calling it “a key national institution” that underpins security and stability. He added that Doha hopes the package will encourage additional investment from other Gulf states and emphasized ongoing coordination with the United States to help implement the November 2027 cease-fire agreement brokered by Washington and Paris.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun urged Qatar to press Israel to respect the truce, saying strikes continue to damage villages in southern and eastern Lebanon and block displaced residents from returning home.
The minister’s visit highlights the delicate balance of diplomacy and aid in Lebanon: international assistance is often tied to political conditions — including calls for Hezbollah’s disarmament and broader governance reforms — while on-the-ground security dynamics and regional tensions continue to shape both humanitarian needs and reconstruction efforts.
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