Hezbollah social services

Hezbollah social services are social development programs organized by the Lebanese paramilitary group and political party, Hezbollah. Hezbollah's popularity among the Lebanese Shiite population, historically one of the poorest and most neglected communities in Lebanon, stems partly from the social services it provides. Social services have a central role in the party's programs, closely linked to its military and politico-religious functions.^[1][2]

Most experts believe that Hezbollah's social and health programs are worth hundreds of millions of dollars annually.^[3] The American think tank Council on Foreign Relations also said that Hezbollah "is a major provider of social services, operating schools, hospitals, and agricultural services for thousands of Lebanese Shiites."^[4] The expansiveness of these services has helped Hezbollah remain deeply embedded in Lebanese society. It has also facilitated its integration into the Lebanese political scene.^[5]

However, these services are not aimed at every section of the Lebanese population. The Shia community in present day Lebanon may potentially motivate Hezbollah to address a history of deprivation by prioritizing the well-being of in-group members. In the past, the Shiites did not have access to the same resources and infrastructure as other religious groups, such as the Sunnis, Druze and Christians had.^[2]