Macron tells donor conference: ‘Lebanon’s future is at stake’

Monday, 10 August 2020 01:03 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

FORT BREGANCON (Reuters): World powers have a duty to support the Lebanese people after a massive blast devastated their capital as the country’s future is at stake, French President Emmanuel Macron told an emergency donors conference yesterday.

Lebanon’s debt-laden economy was already mired in crisis and reeling from the coronavirus pandemic before the port explosion, which killed 158 people. But foreign governments are wary about writing blank cheques to a Government perceived by its own people to be deeply corrupt.

In opening remarks to an online donor conference he co-organised, Macron said the international response should be coordinated by the United Nations in Lebanon.

“Our task today is to act swiftly and efficiently, to coordinate our aid on the ground so that this aid goes as quickly as possible to the Lebanese people,” Macron said via video-link from his summer retreat on the French Riviera.

The President said the offer of assistance included support for an impartial, credible and independent inquiry into the 4 August blast, which has prompted some Lebanese to call for a revolt to topple their political leaders.

The explosion gutted entire neighbourhoods, leaving 250,000 people homeless, razing businesses and destroying critical grain supplies.

Rebuilding Beirut will likely run into the billions of dollars. Economists forecast the blast could wipe up to 25% off of the country’s GDP.

Many Lebanese are angry at the Government’s response and say the disaster highlighted the negligence of a corrupt political elite. Protesters stormed Government ministries in Beirut and trashed the offices of the Association of Lebanese Banks on Saturday.

Macron visited Beirut on Thursday, the first world leader to do so after the explosion, and promised humanitarian aid would come but that profound political reform was needed to resolve the country’s problems and secure longer term support. “I guarantee you, this (reconstruction) aid will not go to corrupt hands,” Macron told the throngs who greeted him.