International criticism resolves dispute over aid to Lebanon

The International Monetary Fund announced today, Thursday, its willingness to “redouble its efforts” to help Lebanon as soon as a new government is formed, at a time when the country is suffering after a massive explosion in the port of Beirut.

“We are ready to deal with the new government. Once its formation is complete, we are ready to redouble our efforts to help Lebanon and the Lebanese people overcome the social and economic crisis,” a spokesman for the Monetary Fund told reporters. International, Jerry Rice.

Rice added that the Washington-based funding institution is providing technical assistance as the country struggles to recover “from this terrible event at the port.”

Rice welcomed the announcement on Wednesday by the interim government’s finance minister, Ghazi Wazni, of the start of a financial audit of the Central Bank, which was convened by the Fund.

He said the measure “is an important part of the evaluation of past losses that are part of the central bank’s balance sheet.”

“The review will also help assess the impact of the financing of government operations by the central bank and the financial architecture of the central bank itself,” said a spokesperson for the fund.

The Beirut port explosion, which occurred on August 4, destroyed entire neighborhoods, leaving at least 190 dead, more than 6,500 injured and billions of dollars in material losses.