Location

Mazraat Al Dahr is located in the Qada’a of Chouf in the Mount Lebanon Mohafaza at an altitude of 650m above the sea level. It lies 64 km from Beirut and 30 km from the Qada’a center in Beiteddine. It spreads across 430 hectares and may be reached via two roads:

• Beirut- Alman- Joun- Mazraat Al Dahr
• Beirut- Saadiyat- Darayya- Anout- Zaarouriyeh- Mazraat Al Dahr

Population

The number of registered inhabitants in the town’s personal status register is estimated at 1800 people, of whom the majority are Maronite and the remaining are Greek Orthodox and Greek Catholic. There are about 200 houses and 3 non-residential institutions in Mazraat Al Dahr.

Voters

In 2000, the number of voters in the town was 1131 of whom 231 cast their ballots. This number increased to 1173 in 2005 of whom 553 cast their ballots. In 2009, the number reached 1278 voters with 558 casting their ballots.

Inhabitants in Mazraat Al Dahr are distributed among different families, with the majority belonging to the Eid family.

• Eid (Maronite): 812 members
• Khoury (Maronite): 23 members
• Rizk (Maronite): 17 members
• Berbari (Greek Orthodox): 7 members
• Klim (Maronite): 6 members
• Faraj (Maronite): 5 members
• Thahabi (Maronite): 3 members
• Thalj (Greek Catholic): 8 members

Local authorities

The municipal council in Mazraat Al Dahr is composed of 9 members and headed by Hassib Jamil Eid, a lawyer. Its share in the Independent Municipal Fund was LBP 113 million in 2010, compared to LBP 96.4 million in 2009. The town has one Mukhtar, Souhad Eid, and a 3-member Ikhtiyariah body. The town is known for having had a female mayor, Therese Eid, in office for a long time.

Educational institutions

The public school in Mazraat Al Dahr was destroyed during the Mountain War in 1985 and the havoc wreaked on the town forced its inhabitants to flee their homes. The few students living in Mazraat Al Dahr nowadays seek education in the neighboring towns.

Archeological sites

The town is home to ancient archaeological remains and to an old olive press.

Economic activities

People in Mazraat Al Dahr earn their living through agriculture, growing pine and olive trees in particular.

NGOs

Mazraat Al Dahr includes the following NGOs:

• Al Sho’la Cultural Association founded in 2008
• The Green Mountain Agricultural Coop founded in 2005
• The Social Charity Association founded in 1987 to take care of the displaced

Problems

The inhabitants of Mazraat Al Dahr have reconstructed their homes thanks to the funds provided by the Ministry of the Displaced following the end of displacement, but unfortunately, most of those still live outside the town, in Beirut and other areas. The permanent population in Mazraat Al Dahr does not exceed 50 people due to the lack of employment opportunities.