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At the invitation of the Chairman of the Public Works and Planning Committee at Saida Municipality, Engineer Mohammad Dandashli, a meeting was held at Saida Municipality with a delegation from the "Saida and Neighborhood Engineers Association" to launch the "Program for the Rehabilitation of Buildings at Risk of Collapse". This is an intensive 60-day executive plan aimed at protecting lives and property and building a comprehensive scientific database for endangered buildings in the city. The meeting was chaired by the Mayor of Saida, Engineer Mustafa Hijazi, with the presence of municipal council members and the head of the engineering department. The attendees agreed on adopting an operational plan to inspect 120 buildings with the participation of 15 volunteer engineers. Its phases are distributed as follows: - Weeks 1-2 (Foundation): Officially approve the program, form a crisis management cell, invite and train volunteer engineers. - Weeks 3-5 (Field Inspection): Focus on old Saida and densely populated areas to classify buildings according to risk level (A/B/C) and create a digital database. - Weeks 6-7 (Intervention and Funding): Carry out immediate protection measures for buildings classified as "Imminent Danger" (Category A) while preparing comprehensive technical files to request the necessary restoration funding. - Week 8Achievement and Transparency: Issuing the comprehensive report and launching a transparency page to keep citizens informed about the progress and results. The meeting also emphasized the importance of partnership between the municipality and the engineering sector and the integration of roles to ensure the success of this mission. The Saida Municipality will take on official oversight, issue legal notices, and handle administrative follow-ups through the Public Works Committee. The Engineers Association, through the syndicate, will provide technical expertise, field inspections, and prepare engineering reports and audits. Coordination will be made with the real estate and urban planning authorities to secure property maps and facilitate communication with owners, as well as with neighborhood committees and the local community to raise awareness and ease access for engineering teams to targeted buildings.  

The ultimate goal of this plan is to achieve 100% immediate protection for buildings at imminent risk and to have a ready financial file to present to donors. The attendees also established an "emergency protocol" to address any sudden collapse incidents, ensuring legal protection for the municipality and a rapid response for affected individuals.  

The meeting concluded by stressing that time is a critical factor, with the task force set to start immediately to turn this plan into action .Towards a tangible reality that ensures the safety of the people of Sidon and its urban legacy. See less