Lebanon launches cash cards to support families in need for help
September 10, 2021, 6:00 am

Lebanon launches cash cards to support families in need for help

Lebanon with flags

The Xinhua reported according to the National News Agency, Lebanon launched on Thursday cash cards in support for over 500,000 families who are in need of help amid the current financial and economic crisis.

According to the Xinhua, caretaker Lebanese Social Affairs Minister Ramzi Musharrafieh said during a press conference that the cash card will give each eligible household member 25 U.S. dollars monthly, or its equivalent in Lebanese pounds at the parallel market exchange rate.

The launching of the cash cards aims at curbing the subsidy program which costs 6 billion dollars yearly, contributing to the depletion of foreign reserves in the country.

Musharrafieh said that the government has allocated a budget of 556 million dollars for this plan, while it is working to get funding from a World Bank loan targeting infrastructure and labor, and also from the IMF's special drawing rights known as SDRs.

Lebanon has been suffering from an unprecedented financial crisis, plunging 74 percent of the population into poverty, according to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for West Asia (ESCWA).

Source: xinhua

The first Chinese COVID-19 vaccine production facility in Europe starts construction Vladimir Putin: Afghanistan crisis is a result of imposing alien values on the country

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has announced its sponsorship of the “Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition (GU - IST Solutions), hosted by Gulf University at its main campus.
This strategic sponsorship reflects BENEFIT’s active role in advancing technological innovation and fostering sustainable solutions to future challenges. It also seeks to empower Bahraini youth by enhancing their skills, capabilities, and competitiveness in innovation and solution development—contributing meaningfully to the broader goals of sustainable development across all sectors.
As part of BENEFIT’s active involvement in the competition, the company has announced that Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication, will serve on the competition’s supervisory committee. Her upcoming participation reflects BENEFIT’s forward-looking commitment to championing academic and professional excellence.
Commenting on the occasion, Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication at BENEFIT, said, “We are privileged to support this pioneering initiative, which aligns seamlessly with BENEFIT’s enduring commitment to fostering innovation and nurturing the potential of Bahrain’s youth. Our participation is rooted in a deep sense of social responsibility and a firm belief in the pivotal role of innovation in shaping a sustainable future. Through such platforms, we seek to empower the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and foresight required to develop impactful solutions that address future challenges, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030.”
Dr. Aseel Al Ayash Dean of the College of Engineering in Gulf University commented, “We extend our sincere gratitude to BENEFIT for their generous sponsorship and support of the Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition. This contribution plays an instrumental role in helping us achieve the strategic goals of this initiative, namely, cultivating a culture of innovation and sustainability, encouraging efforts that address the imperatives of sustainable development, and enhancing the practical and professional capabilities of our students and participants.”
The event will bring together a diverse spectrum of participants, including secondary school students, university undergraduates, engineers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, academic researchers, and subject matter experts representing a wide range of disciplines.
The competition seeks to inspire participants to develop and present innovative, sustainable technologies aimed at addressing pressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. It encourages the formulation of business models that integrate advanced technological solutions with core principles of sustainability. Moreover, it serves as a platform for emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to contribute to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals, promote the ethos of responsible technology, and demonstrate its transformative potential across various sectors.
Attendees will have the opportunity to view a series of project presentations submitted by participants, covering diverse areas such as eco-friendly product design, smart and sustainable innovations, renewable energy technologies, water conservation and management, waste minimisation and recycling, green architectural solutions, and sustainable transportation systems. Outstanding projects will be formally recognised and awarded at the conclusion of the event.