The tone was meant to be firm. French President Emmanuel Macron reiterated his demands for reforms on Lebanon by opening Wednesday, December 2 a second international emergency aid conference for the country, four months after the explosion in the port of Beirut and as leaders Lebanese are unable to agree.
This videoconference, co-chaired by the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, brought together heads of state, international organizations, multilateral funds, NGOs and representatives of Lebanese civil society at the end of the afternoon. .
Lebanon has been stuck for over a year in a deep economic, social and political crisis. In addition to a historic depreciation of its currency and hyperinflation, the country is still without a government more than three months after the resignation of Prime Minister Hassan Diab, shortly after the explosion of the port of Beirut, which put the country on its knees.
In introduction, Emmanuel Macron took stock of the first aid conference of August 9 but also lambasted the Lebanese leaders, who, he lamented, did not keep their commitment to form a government, and to launch reforms, a condition for triggering structural aid. He confirmed that he would be visiting Lebanon again in December to remind them.
” The engagements (…) have not been respected “, he said, “Nothing allows to say that it was not only words”. On the other hand, he was pleased that the pledges of donors on August 9 “Been met and even exceeded: more than 280 million euros were disbursed, which made it possible to meet a large part of the immediate needs”.
” We’ll never let go “
More precisely, “12,500 tonnes of flour were distributed, or 80% of stocks destroyed, 73,000 people received financial assistance, around 20 mobile medical teams were deployed, 25,000 people received shelter, 90 schools were received supplies. It’s a lot but it’s not enough “, continued the French president.
The World Bank, the UN and the EU have agreed to set up a fund for the early recovery of the country, with the participation of civil society. “This support cannot replace the commitment of the Lebanese political forces to form a government as quickly as possible and to implement the reform roadmap without which international structural aid could not be triggered. We will not give up on our promises or our demands, whether on the reforms or on the investigation of the explosion ”, he said.
Lebanese President Michel Aoun said for his part that “Forming a government is a priority”, in order to launch structural reforms and rebuild Beirut. “Your help is crucial for the population”, he told donors.
In a damning report, the World Bank spoke of a “Deliberate depression” in Lebanon, denouncing the inability of the leaders to agree on “Effective political action”. GDP is expected to shrink 19.2% this year after contracting 6.7% in 2019.
