Wealthy Lebanese rush to rebuild bridges

BEIRUT – Lebanese businessmen and private companies pledged yesterday to rebuild 12 of the 80 bridges destroyed by Israeli bombardment during the month-long conflict.

Lebanese MP Bahia Hariri, sister of slain billionaire former premier Rafiq Hariri, said her family has committed to rebuilding five bridges in south Lebanon, including bridges linking the banks of the Awali River, north of Sidon, and Zahrani, south of the city. The Hariri group’s Geneco company will begin work very soon, she said.Hariri’s fortune is estimated at US$16 billion, according to the US Fortune magazine.Former premier Najib Mikati commissioned the public works company Dar al-Handassah to rebuild the Madfun bridge, linking the capital with north Lebanon.The Mikati family is a major shareholder of telecommunications giant Investcom, with assets estimated at US$5 billion.Mayssara Sukkar, CEO of waste management company Sukleen, has committed to rebuilding two bridges in the Jiyeh region south of Beirut, a company statement said.The governing board of the Casino du Liban company has pledged to rebuild the two bridges of Maameltain and Ghazir on the highway that links Beirut to the mainly Christian region of Kesrouan, north of the capital.And businessman Amal Hourani has vowed to rebuild two bridges over the Litani River which link the region of Nabatiyeh to Marjayun in southwest Lebanon.About 80 bridges have been destroyed and losses from damage to infrastructure amount to US$2 billion, according to Transport Minister Mohammed Safadi.Nampa-AFPThe Hariri group’s Geneco company will begin work very soon, she said.Hariri’s fortune is estimated at US$16 billion, according to the US Fortune magazine.Former premier Najib Mikati commissioned the public works company Dar al-Handassah to rebuild the Madfun bridge, linking the capital with north Lebanon.The Mikati family is a major shareholder of telecommunications giant Investcom, with assets estimated at US$5 billion.Mayssara Sukkar, CEO of waste management company Sukleen, has committed to rebuilding two bridges in the Jiyeh region south of Beirut, a company statement said.The governing board of the Casino du Liban company has pledged to rebuild the two bridges of Maameltain and Ghazir on the highway that links Beirut to the mainly Christian region of Kesrouan, north of the capital.And businessman Amal Hourani has vowed to rebuild two bridges over the Litani River which link the region of Nabatiyeh to Marjayun in southwest Lebanon.About 80 bridges have been destroyed and losses from damage to infrastructure amount to US$2 billion, according to Transport Minister Mohammed Safadi.Nampa-AFP