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Disturbances in the Heart of Beirut: Displaced People Seize Properties and Security Forces Respond
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The Interior Minister's statement regarding the ban on weapons in displaced persons' centers suggests serious security concerns that could complicate the crisis and fuel tensions in the Lebanese socia

With the influx of large numbers of displaced people over the past weeks, fleeing from fierce Israeli shelling, many hosting centers established by official institutions and civil organizations in Lebanon have become overcrowded.
While limited groups have temporarily settled in some empty facilities, especially in the capital Beirut, after obtaining the consent of their owners, some displaced people have stormed abandoned facilities without the permission of their owners, as was evident in the Hamra area on Monday.
Security elements began to evacuate them, but a group of them rebelled, leading to skirmishes and clashes. Some young men shouted at security personnel, while others punched gendarmerie elements, and others set fire to rubber tires in the middle of the road.
In this context, the Minister of Interior in the caretaker government, Bassam Mawlawi, affirmed that "the state will not tolerate any encroachment on public and private property." During a press interview, he added that the authorities are seeking to relocate the displaced from the streets to hosting centers and are working to remove violations on private and public properties.
He also stressed the need to take urgent measures to ensure the security of the displaced and address any possibility of security developments. He pointed out that the security agencies are working on "preventing the possession of weapons in displaced persons' centers and their host communities," according to his statement.
Since the outbreak of clashes between Hezbollah and Israel on October 8, 2023, in support of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the number of displaced people from the southern suburbs of Beirut in addition to the south has reached 1.2 million Lebanese, most of whom have been displaced during the past few weeks.
Some of them have spread out on roads and public squares in the Lebanese capital, after hosting centers became overcrowded in a country already suffering from an unprecedented economic crisis since 2019.
Levant - Agencies
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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