Ouadi Faara

Location

Distance from Beirut	Altitude (meters)	Surface (ha)

Municipality address

Sources : Office of the Minister of State for Administrative Reform (OMSAR)

Phone Number	Fax Number	E-Mail	Web sites

Données électorales

Sources : Ministry of Interior and Municipalities (Republic of Lebanon)

Données électorales 2010

Registered voters	Effectifs du conseil municipal	Effectifs moukhtar

Données électorales 2016

Registered voters	Effectifs du conseil municipal	Effectifs moukhtar

Revenue of Independent Municipal Fund

Sources : Official Journal (Lebanese Republic)

Year	Revenues (Thousands Lebanese Pound)

Education

Sources : Central Administration of Statistics (Lebanese Presidency of the Council of Ministers) - Office of the Minister of State for Administrative Reform (OMSAR)

Educational establishments (2006)	Public	Private	Students schooled in the public schools	Students schooled in the private schools
-	-	-	-	-

Higher Educational Institute	Public	Private
-	-	-

Last modification : 27/04/2007

Location

Ouadi Faara is situated 140 km from Beirut and 50 km from Baalbeck in what was formerly the mohafazaT of the Beqaa (in the Baalbek caza). The newly established mohafazaT is now Baalbek-Hermel (in accordance with Law No. 522, issued on 16 July 2003).

The village, which covers an area of 2,700 hectares, stands at an altitude of 1,150m above sea level. It covers the three regions of Aqaba, Mhaylseh and Khirbeh, and can be reached through the Baalbeck-Ain Zboud route.

Origin of the village name

The name has its origins in the Syriac language, from Pe-ra, signifying a large hole.

Population

The registered population is an estimated 1,100, but there are no more than 25 residents. The remaining population is distributed between Baalbeck, Beirut, and Jdeideh. There are around 30 houses in the village, most of them made from brick and clay.

The small number of residents is attributed to the absence of employment opportunities and the difficulty of life in the village, owing to a lack of basic services like health and education.

Number of Voters

Registered voters number around 680, most of whom are Shiaa and belong to the Cheaib family (610 voters). Voters are distributed among the following main families:

 Medlej: 24

 Nimr: 22

 Jaber: 12

 Qassar: 5

Local Authorities

The village has a municipal council with nine members and a mayor, as well as a mayoral council with three members. Revenues received by Wadi Fa’ara from the Independent Municipality Fund over the last several years total:

 2002: LBP 49 million ($32,500)

 2001: LBP 53 million ($35,170)

 2000: LBP 28.4 million ($18,845)

 1998-1999: LBP 81 million ($53,750)

 1997: LBP 38.5 million ($25,550)

Despite scarce financial resources and a small municipal budget, the Ouadi Faara municipality has carried out a number of important projects to prevent more migration and persuade former residents to return. Those include:

 Building a water network

 Adding electrical cable lines

 Paving and improving roads that link Wadi Fa’ara to neighboring villages

Educational and social institutions

Ouadi Faara had a public school, but owing to a steady decline in the number of students, from 10 in the 1997-1998 academic year to three in 2001, the school finally closed its doors that year.

Economic Activities

The majority of village residents have moved elsewhere, owing to little economic activity, while those who remained are mostly involved in agricultural activities, apiculture and raising cattle.

Exacerbating the poor economy, say residents, is the government’s ownership of 90% of the village lands, which it forbids residents from working on.

Ouadi Faara represents a typical prototype of migration from villages to cities, with people seeking better economic opportunities and leaving the villages to fall into ruin.

Attractions

The village has many important ruins, including what is thought to have been an old court, full of engravings, and a number of caves and wells. Unfortunately, the difficulty in reaching those sites has led to their neglect.