57% of Tripoli population are poor and deprived while 26% live below the poverty belt

According to the study on urban poverty prepared by the Ministry of Social Affairs in collaboration with ESCWA and UNDP and launched two days ago, 57% of the population in Tripoli are poor and deprived and 26% live under the poverty line, 77% have difficult economic conditions, 35% suffer from health problems and/or live in insalubrious conditions, and 25% are deprived from education.

The study also indicated that the proportion of poverty and deprivation varies from one area to another and is at its peak in Tebbaneh and Suwayqah where it reaches 87% of the population compared to 75% in the old market, 69% in Qobbeh and Jabal Mohsen, 63% in El Mina, 36% in Al-Tal and in Al Zahirieh , 26% in Al Mina Basateen  and 29% in Basateen Tripoli. As for the proportion of  extreme poverty, ratios are as follows: 52% of the deprived families live in in Tebbaneh and Suwayqah, 36% in the old town medina, 28% in El Mina, 28% in Qobbeh and Jabal Mohsen, 11% in Al-Tal and in Al Zahirieh, 10% in Al Mina Basateen and 10% in Basateen Tripoli.

The study noted that dealing with this situation must look at the causes and launch mechanisms which will help achieve sustainable outcomes.  The study presents three approaches to address the needs and capabilities of the area and ensure safety and security as two conditions sine qua none for any development plan.  The main aim of any development plan should be to set up an economic process which is in line with the national economy and focusing on employment of young people.  The study ends with several conclusions namely that Tripoli is a poor city which includes pockets of opulence, that poverty bears many dimensions which are strongly interconnected, that there is a need to minimise the gaps in wealth in the city, that there is a need to invest in large economic projects, and for a strong local governance, that present political cleavages in Tripoli encourage chaos.  The study further concluded  that there is a need to redraw the profile of Tripoli and to tap on unused resources and recognise that the current general trend in the city is that of further impoverishment.

(Source: As-Safir, Al-Nahar, Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Akhbar 12 January 2015)

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