Dozens of Syrian families in Lebanon are threatened
June 13, 2019, 3:39 pm

Dozens of Syrian families in Lebanon are threatened

The Lebanese army Supreme Defense Council recently decided to demolish rooms and tents which contain cement, and belong to Syrian refugees.

Last month a meeting was held in the town of Arsal between representatives of the Supreme Council of Defense and the leaders of the camps, as well as representatives of the UNHCR, but ended with undesirable results following the insistence of representatives of the Supreme Council on the need to demolish the rooms and tents that are built by cement and its heights are more than a meter. The Supreme Council Defense depends on two excuses, the first one is that these tents threat the security of the Lebanese army, the tents might be a shelter for terrorists, according to agents. The other is that the pretext is the fear of "settlement and occupation.

Organizing or Restriction?

Future Movement MP Walid al-Baraini, stated to the Levant News that the situation of the refugees is exceptional in the country and the organizing is completely absent in Lebanon. But we have to endure. He added, "The refugee isn't targeted, but the aim of these procedures is organizing because the chaos is everywhere

Pressure on refugees and gains

In the same context, a security source, who preferred not to be named, confirmed to our news agency that these procedures build more pressure on the refugees for racist and material causes. Some politicians exploit them to get more popularity. The Lebanese authorities choose to restrict them to apply pressure on the international community, and to receive additional financial aids under the pretext of hosting those refugees. March 8 Alliance tries to restore the relations between Lebanon and Syria through refugee cases, which cannot be possible due to the division between the Syrian revolution supporters and Assad regime allies.

The source added: everyone knows that Assad refuses refugees returning after they seized their lands and gave it to the Shia militias.

The fate of 1400 families is in the air

Most of those who used the cement to construct the rooms and tents had already taken permission from the army intelligence, which now claims that the construction is illegal, the refugees in Arsal confirmed to the Levant News.

More than 1,400 Syrian families are facing an unknown fate due to the final removal of the camps, and after the possibility of demolishing or removing more than 14 camps in the town of Arsal, the biggest are Al-Hayat village, Al-Abrar, and Al-Salam.

Dozens of Syrian families in Lebanon are threatened

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.