$30 million prison project passed by Cabinet

First such project since 1966

The Council of Ministers earmarked $30 million for the development of a new central prison, in its latest meeting on Wednesday.

The prison will be built either in the North or the South, according to Nouhad Machnouk, Minister of Interior. “The prison, which will be built in a rural area, will have the capacity to hold up to 800 inmates,” he said.

Machnouk said that part of the cost will be covered by a donation from the Lebanese Association for Prison Rehabilitation.

Roumieh is the largest prison, with a 1,000 prisoner capacity, but is now holding more than 4,000. The current 42 prisons and detention centers are filled to three times their capacities. This sparked outrage among humanitarian NGOs, the civil society, and several lawmakers, who called for a national strategy for prison management.

“This is the first time since 1966 that the State has allocated a budget for the development of prisons,” said Machnouk.