Foreign
French President, Emmanuel Macron, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, are hosting an international aid conference for Lebanon by video conference from Paris on Wednesday, the French government confirmed.
The French president is following up on his efforts to assist Lebanon in the wake of a massive explosion in Beirut in August.
Macron travelled to Beirut immediately after the huge blast that killed more than 190 people there on Aug. 4.
He also initiated a donor conference for emergency aid. However, Macron has always linked long-term aid to necessary reforms in Lebanon.
Some 6,000 people were injured and around 300,000 were made homeless by the explosion.
The economic situation has deteriorated drastically in Lebanon since the beginning of 2020.
The Coronavirus pandemic and the explosion have exacerbated the situation and many people have slipped into poverty.
Wednesday’s conference will focus on helping the Lebanese public.
The French government expects heads of state, international organisations and donors, non-governmental organisations, and representatives of Lebanese civil society to attend.
Macron’s office said the conference aims to make an initial assessment of what aid the country has received so far and what assistance Lebanon requires now.
Lebanese financial experts estimate the country will need further aid to the tune of 200 to 300 million dollars.
Lebanon also began negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on a rescue programme in May to seek a way out of its worst crisis since the end of the civil war in 1990. However, in the absence of reforms, talks have stalled for months. (dpa/NAN)
– Dec. 2, 2020 @ 10:49 GMT |
Tags: Guterres host int’l aid conference for Lebanon Macron
