In a fundraising meeting with the Association of Banks in Lebanon held on May 30, 2014, Mr. Machnouk insisted that the prison crisis is “a problem with a solution,” while laying out the dire state of affairs in Lebanon’s largest prison.

In a video report presented by Mr. Machnouk, Roumieh was described as a “ticking time bomb” with 3,600 prisoners packed into a facility meant to house just 1,050 and drug rings and terrorist networks operating freely within its walls. The prison lacks clean water for days at a time, and 165 prisoners suffer from transferrable, dangerous, and/or chronic illnesses with no health care to speak of.

In an emergency move to contain the growing terrorism in Roumieh, Mr. Machnouk also revealed that with the help of the security forces, 300 of the most dangerous fundamentalists were moved to a secure building off the premises.

He also proposed a comprehensive reform program to address these and other violations. The program includes the renovation of the prison, the construction of four new ones and the development of a proper health care program along with social and educational rehabilitation.

The entire project is projected to cost hundreds of millions of dollars, which Mr. Machnouk is hoping to solicit from friendly Arab countries and the banking sector….