French President Emmanuel Macron will chair a UN-backed conference online Sunday to drum up support for Lebanon’s blast-devastated population.
“To face the consequences of the tragic explosion that hit the heart of Beirut on Aug. 4, the UN and France will organize Sunday Aug. 9, at the initiative of the President of the French Republic, an international conference to support Beirut and the Lebanese people,” said a statement released Saturday eventing by Macron’s press office .
Washington, London, Beijing, Moscow, Brussels, the World Bank and others have confirmed that they will attend the virtual donor conference.
The money raised is to be earmarked for rebuilding Beirut, suppling food aid, rebuilding schools and hospitals, and delivering medical equipment.
Macron visited Beirut Thursday to confirm France’s readiness to help the Lebanese people and coordinate international aid and humanitarian assistance to the country.
He promised that the aid would not fall “into corrupt hands” and promised that its impact would be felt by the people on the ground.
International donors pledged around $11 billion in soft-loans and grants to Lebanon at the 2018 CEDRE conference.
Macron reaffirmed during his visit that those funds were still available, but once again warned Lebanon’s politicians that the authorities would not receive a dime of aid before sweeping reforms were implemented.
Ahead of the conference, slated to take place at 3 p.m. Beirut time, the French presidency’s media office issued a statement Saturday saying that “all France's means have been put into action to bring help to the Lebanese people.”
It said that “an air and sea bridge” had been established between the two countries to transport personnel and deliver medical equipment, medicines and foodstuffs.
It listed the numerous flights that had already landed and are scheduled to land in Beirut carrying tons of aid.
“France stands, as it always has, alongside Lebanon and the Lebanese. It intends to continue to do so, alongside its international partners,” the statement ended.
This article has been adapted from its original source.
