Future Movement Condemns Displaced Relocation Plan as Politically Motivated

The Future Movement has launched a sharp critique of a government decision to relocate displaced individuals from Beirut's waterfront area to land parcels under municipal control in close proximity to their current sites.

In a statement, the political movement characterized the relocation plan as "random," rejecting claims that it was developed through collaborative efforts involving Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, the Beirut governor, municipal authorities, and the Ministries of Social Affairs and Interior.

The movement contends that the decision stems from "yielding to political and partisan pressures that challenge state authority," and asserts that it undermines parallel initiatives to move displaced persons to designated shelter centers, particularly Sports City.

The Future Movement assigned responsibility to Prime Minister Salam, Beirut's governor and municipal leadership, along with the Interior and Social Affairs ministries for "the full consequences of this decision and any resulting disorder," while noting that previous appeals for "thoughtful and balanced approaches that safeguard Beirut's interests and respect the dignity of displaced persons" went unheeded.

The movement reiterated its opposition to "establishing any area in Beirut as an imposed situation affecting its residents," maintaining that Beirutis should not bear the costs of mismanagement and uncertainty surrounding displacement policy.

However, the movement affirmed that the state bears an obligation to furnish displaced populations with "respectable and properly organized shelter facilities that uphold their dignity." It urged displaced persons to accept transfers to Sports City's shelter center, which would guarantee "essential humanitarian standards" and replace what it termed "ad-hoc management, reactive measures, and political manipulation" of the displacement issue.