Around $357 million in essential aid was collected at an international conference on Lebanon to meet the country’s humanitarian needs, one year after the massive blast at Beirut’s port.
President Joe Biden, who addressed the conference in a video message, pledged to give $100 million in new humanitarian assistance.
Biden said that “no amount of outside assistance will ever be enough if Lebanon’s own leaders do not commit to do the hard but necessary work of reforming the economy and combating corruption. That is essential and it has to start now,” he further stated.
About 40 heads of state and government, diplomats and heads of international organizations have taken part in the conference.
Lebanon’s current humanitarian needs have been estimated to be at least $357 million. Aid will focus on food, schools, the health sector and clean water supply, macron’s office said.
Wednesday’s event was also meant to mount pressure on Lebanese leaders to form a new government able to implement reforms and start rebuilding the country.
Lebanon is going through the worst economic and financial crisis of its modern history, and a political stalemate that has kept the country without a functioning government for a full year.
