World vows to help Lebanon in wake of explosion Intro: More than 30 international leaders have held a virtual conference, hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and the United Nations, to work out how to help Lebanon following last week’s devastating blast in Beirut. The participants in the international conference backing Lebanon pledged on Sunday to offer urgent aid to country worth USD 297.9 At the conference on Sunday, the UK pledged a further $36.5 million on top of the $9 million it has already given. The support will go directly to those injured and displaced by the explosion, providing access to food and medicine as well as other urgent supplies. The explosion has left many homes without water or electricity while the city's hospitals, already dealing with a spike in Covid-19 cases, risk being overwhelmed. The following report covers what other countries, including Australia and Kuwait, have pledged to do. The report also includes edited speech extracts from UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Jane Mohammed, Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun and the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. 
Macron tells Lebanon donor conference: 'We must act quickly' World powers owe the Lebanese people support after a massive blast devastated the country's capital, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday. "We must act quickly and efficiently so that this aid goes directly to where it is needed," Macron said in opening remarks to a U.N.-backed donor conference he was hosting by video link. "Lebanon's future is at stake." The president said the offer of assistance included support for an impartial, credible and independent inquiry into the Aug. 4 port explosion that killed at least 158 people. 
Aoun vows to achieve justice and combat justice In his address, Mr Aoun said: “This disaster in Beirut, from all humanitarian, social, health, educational and economic perspectives, has left scars in every house and family. “This has hit us while we were amid economic and financial crises and a massive displacement that has cost Lebanon more than $US30 billion, in addition to the repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic. “Facing the fallout of this tragedy therefore goes beyond the capacity of this small country, and its people. “Rebuilding what has been destroyed and restoring the glow of Beirut requires a lot. Needs are tremendous and we have to speedily provide for them, especially before winter, when the suffering of the citizens who have lost their houses shall increase. As for the intended donation fund, I stress it be placed under the management of this conference. Referring to Lebanon’s ongoing economic and social problems, Mr Aoun said: “I have undertaken before my people to achieve justice, for justice alone can give some comfort to afflicted parents and to every Lebanese. I have also committed that no one is above the law and that every person whose involvement has been proven shall be held accountable, according to Lebanese laws. “I have also pledged to fight corruption and undertake reforms; and despite all the obstacles, concrete measures have been put on track, on top of which the financial forensic audit which will not be limited to one institution but will rather encompass all institutions. This is not the first time that Beirut is demolished; but every time, it rises from the ashes. This time too, I have faith our Beirut shall rise.” 
UN Deputy Secretary General’s heartfelt message In her opening speech, the UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Jane Mohammed told of the scale of the tragedy. “Neighborhoods flattened, at least 150 lives lost, a large part of the country’s grain reserves obliterated, six hospitals damaged or destroyed, hundreds of thousands have been made homeless. “Since the blast, the UN system has been working around the clock, delivering medical supplies, shelter kits and food parcels, and helping reunite separated families. “We are grateful to the donors whose funding has enabled us to do this. Financial support leveraged in record time – in particular from regional partners – is already making a difference. “But, of course, much more will be needed. First, recovery and reconstruction. This will require a sense of urgency, large-scale activity and considerable funding. “To help Lebanon overcome the tragedy and recover better, we will need all hands on deck.” “The faster we act, the better we can reduce human suffering, in Lebanon and beyond, let us not forget that the port that was destroyed also serves humanitarian needs in Syria. “Second, anticipating and responding to the ongoing crisis. “As the dust settles, the deeper and longer-term impacts will become visible. The UN will help strengthen safety nets for vulnerable people against the socio-economic crisis. “The people of Lebanon need to rebuild. We must focus our support on four priority sectors – health, food, the rehabilitation of buildings and the rehabilitation of schools.” 
Morrison adds another $3m in relief support Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced an additional $3 million in humanitarian assistance, in addition to the $2 million announced immediately after the tragedy, and said Australia was ready to provide more if requested. He said this would be delivered through NGO and international partners including the World Food Programme, Red Cross and UNICEF. He said “although Australia is a long way from Lebanon, this nation is participating both as a member of the global community and because we have longstanding ties to Lebanon in particular though our large Lebanese-Australian community”. Mr Morrison noted members of the Lebanese Australian community were also organising their own donation drives. He said he recognised calls for reforms by France and others as part of this equation, including the resumption of negotiations with the IMF. He also joined other leaders in calling for a full, impartial and credible investigation into the explosion in Beirut. 
Kuwait pitches in with $30m Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled delivered a speech in which he expressed his "sincere condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims in brotherly Lebanon". “The State of Kuwait under the directives of His Highness the Deputy Emir and Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad, has provided relief aid to brotherly Lebanon since the explosion occurred. He announced his country’s "readiness to provide support in the face of this disaster, with prior commitments pertaining to the Kuwaiti Fund for Development that will be reallocated to Lebanon in the amount of nearly $30 million,” adding “Kuwait will co-ordinate with Lebanese authorities to support food security, in addition to urgent medical and food aid amounting to $11 million, in addition to the donations of Kuwaiti charitable associations." 
Qatar calls on international community’s help The Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani said: “Qatar, with its people and institutions, was quick to respond to the call of the brothers in Lebanon and to provide them with urgent relief aid in the amount of $50 million, as our contribution to relief operations to alleviate suffering. He noted Qatar had dispatched a team equipped with a search and rescue group and established field hospitals. “Lebanon cannot surpass this painful circumstance on its own. Confronting this crisis and its dangerous negative repercussions is dependent on strengthening national unity, unifying and intensifying governmental and societal efforts in Lebanon, and the international community’s extending all necessary forms of aid, from relief to restoration and reconstruction.” List of conference participants In addition to the President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun and French President Emmanuel Macron, the following participated in the conference: US President Donald Trump, Jordanian Monarch King Abdullah II, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, President of Brazil Gerbol Sonaro, President of Cyprus Nikos Anastasiades, President of the Council of the European Union Charles Michel, Secretary General of the League of Arab States Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsu Tsakis, Prime Minister of Italy Giuseppe Conte, Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sanchez, Prime Minister of Sweden Cagil Estephan Love Fan, Prime Minister of Iraq Mustafa Al-Kazemi, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan, Belgian Foreign Minister Philip Goffin, Danish Foreign Minister Djebe Kofoud, Finland's Foreign Minister Becca Haavisto, Norwegian Foreign Minister Ene Eriksen Suredi, EU Commissioner for Crisis Linarchic, Minister for Development of Canada Karina Gould, Minister for Foreign Trade of Netherlands, Sigrid Kaag, Minister of State for Development International in Britain, Anne Marie Trevelyan, Minister of State for International Cooperation in the United Arab Emirates, Reem Al-Hashemi, President of the International Red Cross, Peter Maurer, Director General of the International Monetary Fund, Catalina Georgieva, President of the European Investment Bank, Warner Hoyer, Director of Operations at the World Bank, Axel van Trotsenberg, Deputy Japanese Foreign Minister Norihiro Nakayama, Chinese Special Envoy to the Middle East John Zhai, Swiss Minister Manuel Bessler, EU delegate for reconstruction. Macron’s office announced that an emergency donors ’conference was held today, Sunday, to support Lebanon after the Beirut bombing, with pledges of 253 million euros (298 million dollars) for immediate relief aid. Pope Francis in solidarity with the people of Lebanon 09 Aug 2020 Vatican - In a gesture of solidarity with the people of Lebanon, Pope Francis has donated 250,000 Euro as initial aid to assist the Church in these moments of difficulty and suffering. The Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development announced the Pope’s donation in a statement on Friday. The donation "is intended as a sign of His Holiness’s attention and closeness to the affected population and of his fatherly closeness to people in serious difficulty," the statement reads. Pope Francis's donation was sent through the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development to the Apostolic Nunciature of Beirut. It will serve to assist those affected by the explosion of 4 August. On Tuesday evening, a massive blast ripped through the port of Beirut and the surrounding areas, killing over 100 people, injuring thousands and causing damage to buildings, including Churches and monasteries. Local authorities report that the explosion was caused by tons of ammonium nitrate sorted a warehouse in the port of Lebanon’s capital. The Church, through Caritas Lebanon and Caritas Internationalis, is helping to provide emergency assistance for those affected by the Beirut explosion. Prayers for Lebanon The Dicastery for Integral Human Development echoes Pope Francis's invitation to pray for Lebanon during the weekly General Audience on Wednesday: "Let us pray for the victims, for their families; and let us pray for Lebanon so that, through the dedication of all its social, political and religious elements, it might face this extremely tragic and painful moment and, with the help of the international community, overcome the grave crisis they are experiencing, the Pope prayed. --- Vatican News |
