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Beirut: “The Gulf”
Yesterday, Thursday, the Lebanese President, Michel Aoun, considered that the participation of some 40 countries and international financial institutions in the conference to support the Lebanese people held this Wednesday, hypothetically in Paris, confirms once again the interest of the international community in the Lebanon and the willingness of the Member States to help it cope with the difficult conditions it is going through. Aoun enacted a law aimed at providing compensation and pensions to the families of the victims of the Beirut port explosion, at a time when the French embassy confirmed that the support conference allowed the international community to vigorously renew its solidarity with the people Lebanese, while the British Minister for Middle Eastern Affairs claimed that Lebanon is on the verge of its inability to feed itself.
The embassy noted that “the current conference on December 2 enabled the international community to vigorously renew its solidarity with the Lebanese people. He stressed that the commitments made in terms of emergency aid since last August 4 have been fulfilled, in terms of quality and quantity, in all the priority areas identified by the United Nations at that time, including health, education, urban rehabilitation and food, while 257 million euros have been committed and more than 280 million euros have already been disbursed.
The conference expressed concern about the deteriorating economic and social conditions and the emerging humanitarian crisis. He reiterated: “Emphasizing the urgent need for Lebanese political leaders to agree as soon as possible to form a credible, effective and capable government for the public interest of the country.”
road map
On the basis of the road map of September 1, which was endorsed by all Lebanese political forces, this government must urgently implement all the reforms and measures necessary to restore the confidence of the Lebanese in the international community. Welcome to the intensive dialogue with Lebanese civil society that bears witness to the spirit of responsibility. And the vitality that the latter enjoys, ”noting that the conference shares the aspirations of the Lebanese people and derives from this dialogue confidence in the future of Lebanon.
Compensation law
Aoun signed Law No. 196 aimed at providing compensation and pensions to the families of the victims of the attack in the port of Beirut and allowing disabled people to benefit from the health benefits of the National Social Security Fund and related law. with the rights of people with additional needs. He discussed with the British Minister of State for the Middle East and North Africa, James Cleverley, Lebanese-British relations and London’s contribution to the Paris conference dedicated to helping Lebanon.
Famine warning
Cleverley met with Acting Prime Minister Hassan Diab and most of the Lebanese leaders and gave a presentation on the overall situation, after which the British Minister expressed his government’s solidarity with the Lebanese people in difficult circumstances that he is going through, expressing the concern of his country for the difficulties encountered in the process of forming the new government that impede decision-making. Related to the reform.
Cleverley had indicated in an article that Lebanon “now faces a growing danger that threatens its citizens. This risk is a direct result of a dysfunctional economic model. As was the case with the explosion at the port, this is a man-made problem that could have been prevented. This danger was generally silent, but now it grows by the day. Emergencies are imminent in education, health and also in the electricity sector. But the most urgent danger is that of food security: Lebanon is on the verge of being unable to feed itself.
The Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, proposed a new joint plan to help the Lebanese people recover from the repercussions of the tragic explosion at the port of Beirut, which occurred in early August.
A plan to recover
In a message sent to the conference, Guterres highlighted the reform, recovery and reconstruction framework drawn up by the World Bank in cooperation with the European Union and the United Nations, indicating that those affected by this explosion have not yet received satisfactory responses even four months later. of the explosion. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi also called, during his participation in the conference, on all Lebanese leaders to defend Lebanon’s national interests, resolve differences, and accelerate efforts to form an independent government capable of dealing with the challenges. current challenges and safeguarding the capacities of the brother Lebanese people and the unity of its national fabric to avoid entering a vicious circle. Of successive crises.