The Lebanese Diaspora: Rebuilding Peace and Democratic Development

Lebanese diaspora includes being Lebanese first. And, to be Lebanese is to live life in catastrophe. A beautiful country that welcomes tourists with its vibrant nightlife and picturesque infrastructure is simultaneously the source of constant tragedies for its citizens.  And its inhabitants spend their years mourning at their beloved homeland, like witnessing a dying person wanting to live.

The sudden economic downfall, the shortage of resources, and the civil disturbance aggravated by a political collapse; all these factors have left Lebanon confronting the nightmare of a failed nation and the imminent breakdown of the country’s social structure. The economy is disintegrating, the entire country is facing scarcity of jobs, the prices of essential commodities are soaring, educational and healthcare institutions are in free fall, there are liquidity shortages…and the list continues. The economic landscape has pushed nearly 50 percent of people into poverty and triggered anti-national protests.

The devastating explosion that tore down the country’s capital, Beirut, worsened the scenario to another level. For many inhabitants, this was the last nail in the coffin, and many households have given up as a new wave of emigration has started with tens of thousands leaving the country over the past two months alone. A tragic end for many and a profound loss for the country.

The meltdown, rooted in years of corruption and bad governance, came to a head last month as its inhabitants started protests demanding the reform of the biased system. Emigration in Lebanon has been brewing for years. So much so that the entire population is known to be far exceeded by its diaspora, which is thought to surpass 16 million (including multiple generations). Thus, its scale and impact on the nation and its economy are considerable.

The diaspora in the country has proven to be driven, adaptable, multipurpose, hardworking, and capable. Several industries, including education, finance, healthcare, consulting, and architecture, have reached the top of their fields. For instance, members of the Lebanese International Finance Executives (LIFE) organization assembled over 850 such pioneers globally.

The diaspora stands as a hope to the Lebanese, and their influence is felt in the entire nation with an average of $7 billion to $8 billion of allowances per annum sent to the country. This has resulted in an enormous growth of the finance industry over the years and sustained the economy for years. Today, Lebanon is a country in extreme crisis. What is the role of the diaspora in rebuilding the economy?

As we look at various efforts supporting Lebanon, there’s no doubt that its strength and spirit lie in its inhabitants, not its collapsing government and corrupt political institutions. In the aftermath of the devastating blast, the inhabitants from all corners of the country gathered to support their fellow citizens, to save, to clean, and to help, selflessly and incessantly.

The Lebanese Diaspora Gathers

The diaspora has also been assembled worldwide. Even before the blast, relief efforts were being planned to answer the humanitarian crisis that Lebanon was amid and to address the growing poverty resulting from years of economic and political turmoil. Funds were raised and used for medical, food, and overall support.

Following the massive blast, millions of dollars were raised to support the Lebanese. Several people of the country rushed to assist NGOs that took over the responsibility of relief efforts to mitigate the gap created by a failing government without an appropriate crisis management plan.

One such non-profit organization called LIFE — established over a decade ago to bring Lebanese leaders in the diaspora together to provide relief to one another, the next generation, and the country — vigorously worked on various relief measures over the last few years. The organization hosted a “Solidarity Dinner” in London in 2019, collecting over $1.7 million in donations to extend its scholarship programs.

Furthermore, LIFE established two emergency humanitarian and social funds to support healthcare services, food, and other necessities to the country’s most affected communities. In the aftermath of the blast, LIFE came together with other organizations such as Kuwait-America Foundation, Social and Economic Action for Lebanon (SEAL), Jam hour Alumni (US/Europe), and LebNet, to establish the Beirut Emergency Fund 2020 (BEF). This fund’s primary aim is to support hospitals and NGOs working on physical and mental health, medical needs, and the rehabilitation of households and SMEs. The BEF managed to gather $8 million in funds, and transactions are still in progress to meet the critical needs.

While funds of any kind are of extreme importance in the current crisis, the diaspora also has a significant role in the country’s long-term development. This includes restructuring the financial and banking sector, supporting reforms and the reconstruction of the infrastructure, and developing better telecommunications networks, water supply, electricity, and energy.

For these initiatives to be implemented, Lebanon needs necessary governmental, legal, judiciary, administrative, institutional, and security frameworks, which are missing at present. This is where the diaspora comes into the picture and has a vital role in supporting the people to establish a well-governed, new Lebanon.

Moving Ahead

Meanwhile, we must continue supporting those in need, particularly the youth, who are the country’s future. The children need to believe in a brighter future, and the diaspora has an equally significant role in supporting education, training programs, employment creation, and job placements.

For instance, LIFE has launched a program for polishing coding skills, technical training, and soft skills, targeting tens of thousands of people working with local organizations. Moreover, Jobs For Lebanon, a global job portal, has reached out to the diaspora to provide employment opportunities to local talents. These initiatives thrive on creating long-term stability in an otherwise collapsing country.

Pierre El Sokhn