International conference in Paris yields 800 million USD in humanitarian aid for Lebanon

The international conference on Lebanon in Paris has successfully garnered over 800 million USD in humanitarian aid, along with an additional 200 million USD in support for the Lebanese army. The French foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced this on Thursday.

"We have responded to the call of the United Nations by announcing substantial contributions, totalling 800 million USD, with significant in-kind contributions to follow," Barrot said.

During the conference, French president Emmanuel Macron pledged 100 million euros in humanitarian assistance to Lebanon as Israel continues its ground and air offensive against the Shiite group Hezbollah. Macron called for an immediate halt to hostilities, stating, "The war must stop as soon as possible. We need a ceasefire in Lebanon." He reaffirmed France's commitment to helping Lebanon rebuild a "free, sovereign Lebanon."

Lebanese prime minister Najib Mikati, who was present at the conference, reiterated that Lebanon’s very survival is under threat due to the ongoing Israeli offensive. The attacks have caused widespread damage to the country’s infrastructure and economy, displacing hundreds of thousands of people. The United Nations has already mobilised 400 million euros in emergency aid for Lebanon in response to the crisis.

Belgian assistance with healthcare

Also in attendance was Belgium's development cooperation minister, Frank Vandenbroucke, who held a direct meeting with Hajali. "I asked him if Belgium could assist us in the area of healthcare," Hajali said during his testimony to the committee. He further urged Belgium to encourage other nations to provide substantial humanitarian aid to Lebanon.

Hajali painted a grim picture of the humanitarian crisis, reporting that the conflict has displaced 1.4 million Lebanese, representing 30 per cent of the population. This crisis marks what he called a "paradigm shift" for Lebanon, which for years has hosted tens of thousands of Syrians fleeing their own civil war. Of the Syrian refugees, 340,000 have returned to Syria, and now around 150,000 Lebanese have also fled to Syria due to the ongoing conflict.

Other ares affected by the crisis situation are the education and healthcare sectors. "The school year has not yet started because 77 per cent of schools remain closed, leaving over half a million children without education," Hajali explained. Many of these schools were either damaged in attacks or have been repurposed to shelter refugees. Hospitals are caring for the nearly 120,000 people who remain wounded.

"Anyone who violates international humanitarian law should be sanctioned"

Hajali condemned Israeli attacks on healthcare facilities, calling it "unacceptable" that hospitals were being targeted. "Anyone who violates international humanitarian law should be sanctioned. At the very least, the association agreement with the European Union should be frozen," he stated, adding that these actions could constitute war crimes.

He further asserted that Israel's actions are not solely directed at Hezbollah but are affecting Lebanon as a whole. He cited examples of attacks on predominantly Christian villages, underscoring Lebanon’s "diverse and multi-confessional character," which he contrasted with what he described as an "apartheid regime" and "mono-ethnicity" in Israel. "Lebanon may be a democracy under pressure, but it remains a democracy that values human rights and freedom of expression. Israel has a problem with the very idea of Lebanon," the ambassador concluded.

^{French foreign affairs minister Jean-Noel Barrot, Lebanon prime minister Najib Mikati, French president Emmanuel Macron, Lebanon foreign affairs minister Abdallah Bou Habib and French minister of the armed forces Sebastien Lecornu during an international press conference in support of Lebanon, in Paris on October 24, 2024 ​
​© PHOTO RAPHAEL LAFARGUE / ABACAPRESS.COM}