World leaders pledge 250m Euros to rebuild Beirut but insist the Lebanese government must commit to 'reforms' in the longer term to get any more
- Fifteen government leaders, including Donald Trump, took part in video call
- Pledged support dependent on commitment to 'timely measures and reforms'
- Also stressed need for 'impartial, credible and independent inquiry' into blast
- Explosion killed more than 150, wounded 6,000 and left 300,000 homeless
World leaders on Sunday pledged more than 250 million euros to rebuild Beirut after last week's horrific port blast in the Lebanese capital.
Fifteen government leaders, including Donald Trump took part in a conference call hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and the UN.
The donor nations also urged Lebanon to 'fully commit themselves to timely measures and reforms' in order to unlock longer-term support for the country's economic and financial recovery.
And they said assistance for 'an impartial, credible and independent inquiry' into Tuesday's explosion 'is immediately needed and available, upon request of Lebanon.'
Macron was the first world leader to visit the former French colony after Tuesday's devastating explosion of a huge stockpile of ammonium nitrate which killed more than 150 people, wounded some 6,000 and left an estimated 300,000 homeless
A joint statement issued after the meeting in which representatives of nearly 30 countries as well as the EU and Arab League participated, did not mention a global amount.
A picture shows the scene of the explosion in Beirut on August 4, 2020
But Macron's office said the total figure of 'emergency aid pledged or that can be mobilised quickly' amounts to 252.7 million euros ($298 millon), including 30 million euros from France.
Macron was the first world leader to visit the former French colony after Tuesday's devastating explosion of a huge stockpile of ammonium nitrate which killed more than 150 people, wounded some 6,000 and left an estimated 300,000 homeless.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told ZDF broadcaster that 'more than 200 million euros of emergency aid have been collected,' including 20 million euros from Germany.
The joint statement from the world leaders and their representatives underscored concerns about Lebanese government corruption.
'The participants agreed that their assistance should be timely, sufficient and consistent with the needs of the Lebanese people, well-coordinated under the leadership of the United Nations, and directly delivered to the Lebanese population, with utmost efficiency and transparency,' it said.
USAID acting administrator John Barsa also said in a conference call Sunday that American help, some $15 million announced so far, 'is absolutely not going to the government.'
Fifteen government leaders, including Donald Trump took part in a conference call hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and the UN on Sunday
French President Emmanuel Macron reacts during a donor teleconference with other world leaders concerning the situation in Lebanon following the Beirut blast, in Fort de Bregancon in Bormes-les-Mimosas, France, August 9
The UN said some $117 million will be needed for an emergency response over the next three months, for health services, emergency shelter, food distribution and programmes to prevent further spread of COVID-19, among other interventions.
Lebanese President Michel Aoun, who was also on Sunday's group call, thanked Macron for the initiative.
'Much is needed to rebuild what has been destroyed and to restore Beirut's lustre,' the Lebanese presidency quoted him on Twitter as saying.
'The needs are many and we need to address them quickly, especially before the arrival of winter, which will accentuate the suffering of homeless citizens.'
At least 21 people are still missing from the huge blast, and the Lebanese army said Sunday hopes of finding survivors are dwindling.
Lebanese people enraged by official negligence blamed for the explosion have taken to the streets in anti-government protests that have resulted in clashes with the army.
Macron said it was now up to the authorities of Lebanon 'to act so that the country does not sink, and to respond to the aspirations that the Lebanese people are expressing right now, legitimately, in the streets of Beirut.'
'We must all work together to ensure that neither violence nor chaos prevails,' he added. 'It is the future of Lebanon that is at stake.'
Trump also called for calm, according to the White House, which said he agreed with other leaders on the group call to 'work closely together in international response efforts.'
'President Trump also urged the government of Lebanon to conduct a full and transparent investigation, in which the United States stands ready to assist,' it said.
'The President called for calm in Lebanon and acknowledged the legitimate calls of peaceful protestors for transparency, reform, and accountability.'
Apart from heads of state and government ministers, Sunday's conference was attended by UN aid coordinator Mark Lowcock, representatives of the World Bank, the Red Cross, the IMF, the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
Israel, with whom Lebanon has no diplomatic relations, did not participate, though Macron said it had expressed a wish to contribute, nor did Iran which wields huge influence in Lebanon through the Shiite group Hezbollah.
Warehouses full of goods including cars in the immediate area surround the blast were completely destroyed by the impact of the explosion the size of a small nuclear bomb
Damaged cars are seen at the site of Tuesday's blast, at Beirut's port area, Lebanon, August 7
Visiting explosion-ravaged Beirut this week, France's leader (pictured hugging a resident) comforted distraught crowds, promised to rebuild the city and claimed that the blast pierced France's own heart
Key Arab states in the Gulf, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq and the UAE were represented, as were Britain, China, Jordan and Egypt.
Macron said Turkey, with which France's diplomatic ties have been icy over the Libyan conflict, and Russia had indicated their support for the initiative, though they did not take part in the conference.
According to the UN, at least 15 medical facilities, including three major hospitals, sustained structural damage in the blast, and extensive damage to more than 120 schools may interrupt learning for some 55,000 children.
Thousands of people are in need of food and the blast interrupted basic water and sanitation to many neighbourhoods.
Pope Francis called Sunday appealed for 'generous help' from the international community.
Anti-government protesters hurl stones at Lebanese riot police during a protest against the Lebanese politicians who have ruled the country for decades, outside of the Lebanese Parliament in downtown Beirut on Friday evening
People were out hurling stones at riot police outside Lebanese parliament ahead of a major protest planned in downtown Martyrs' Square on Saturday
France has been sending tonnes of medical and food aid, dozens of search and rescue personnel and forensic experts to aid the investigation, as well as reconstruction materials.
On top of cash aid pledged so far, Egypt and Qatar have promised field hospitals, Brazil said it would send 4,000 tonnes of rice, and Spain 10 tonnes of wheat.
'In these horrendous times, Lebanon is not alone,' concluded the conference statement.
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