In international news, the situation in Lebanon continues to arouse concern and mobilization of nations. As Israel continues its airstrikes in Lebanon, France announced at an international conference in Paris a financial commitment of $108 million to support the country in the face of the growing humanitarian crisis.
President Emmanuel Macron stressed the need for massive aid for Lebanon, which is facing an alarming humanitarian situation. The conflict between Iran-backed Hezbollah militants and Israel has already caused the death of more than 2,500 Lebanese, leading to the displacement of more than a million people and exacerbating the country’s economic crisis.
In his opening speech at the Paris conference, President Macron stressed the urgency of helping the Lebanese people, whether they are the hundreds of thousands of people displaced by the war or the communities hosting them. He stressed the need to provide shelter for families, feed children, care for the wounded and ensure the continuation of students’ education, despite the context of conflict.
President Macron also called for a ceasefire and called for faster solutions to avoid further divisions in Lebanon, as the country experiences growing political and social instability.
Through this conference, France is working to mobilize the necessary funds to respond to the UN’s appeal, which estimates that $426 million is urgently needed to help Lebanon. Italy recently announced new aid of $10.8 million, and Germany pledged additional financial support of $64.7 million for the Lebanese people.
Paris also wishes to contribute to restoring Lebanon’s sovereignty and strengthening its institutions, in a context where Hezbollah exercises significant influence over the country’s political life, without a lasting political solution having been found.
The Paris Conference and the financial commitments of the various participating countries demonstrate international solidarity with Lebanon and recall the importance of finding lasting solutions to end the suffering of the Lebanese population and restore peace in the region.