Khirbet ej Jendi, Akkar, is home to around 2,900 Lebanese residents and 1,900 refugees. Amidst the ongoing socio-economic and resulting energy crisis, the village has been enduring lengthy power outages, forcing the municipality to rely on two backup generators, one of which has ceased to work altogether. With the devaluation of the national currency, the municipality was unable to replace it, which has fueled widespread intercommunal tensions. In response, USAID’s Community Support Program supplied and installed a 450-KVA generator to ensure that households (both resident and refugee) have equitable access to electricity. CSP is currently implementing the remaining works to the electrical control room, and aims to have the system fully operational by the end of September 2022. Despite the rise in fuel prices, the community will rely on funding from diaspora networks to operate the provided generator. In parallel, CSP has been training the municipality on an optimized financial operation model, with revised subscription rates to ensure the adequate operation and sustainability of the generator. This activity would ensure consistent power supply among Khirbet ej Jendi’s 4,800 Lebanese and Syrian populations.

“Amidst the increasingly difficult context in Lebanon, this intervention will support the municipality to provide adequate backup electricity to the community,” stated Mr. Ali Souhail Nafeh, Mayor of Khirbet ej Jendi.