Paris conference raises $800 million to aid Lebanon
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Aside from France, Germany also announced a pledge of 96 million euros in humanitarian assistance to both Lebanon and Syria, while Italy committed an additional 10 million euros in aid for Lebanon.
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French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, left, on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, at the Elysee Palace in Paris. (AP)
France on Thursday pledged a 100 million euro ($108 million) aid package to Lebanon at an international conference in Paris, as President Emmanuel Macron stressed the urgent need for "massive aid" to support the country amid intensified Israeli airstrikes.
Over a million people have been displaced and more than 2,500 have been martyred thus far in "Israel's" attacks. The conference, attended by over 70 nations and international organizations, aimed to raise $426 million in humanitarian aid as called for by the United Nations.
"In the immediate term, massive aid is needed for the Lebanese population, both for the hundreds of thousands displaced by the war and the communities hosting them," Macron said in his opening remarks.
Germany joined in the effort, announcing a pledge of 96 million euros in humanitarian assistance to both Lebanon and Syria, while Italy committed an additional 10 million euros in aid for Lebanon, and Britain $20 million.
The conference raised $800 million total in aid, France's foreign minister said as the conference closed.
The Paris conference also sought to strengthen Lebanon’s military capabilities, including a plan to recruit and deploy additional soldiers in the country’s south as part of a potential ceasefire agreement.
Macron highlighted the need to support the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) with fuel, healthcare, and equipment, in addition to recruiting at least 6,000 new soldiers to manage security along the southern border with "Israel."
PM Mikati calls for global action amid worsening crisis
The conference comes as the situation on the ground grows more dire. On Thursday, three Lebanese soldiers were killed by an Israeli airstrike while evacuating the wounded in southern Lebanon.
The Israeli Occupation Force (IOF), which has launched a massive air campaign against Hezbollah positions, claims it regrets an earlier strike that "mistakenly" killed Lebanese soldiers.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, speaking at the conference, called on the international community to act swiftly.
"The devastating impact of this war cannot be overstated. The Israeli aggression has not only caused immense human suffering but has also dealt severe damage to our infrastructure and economy," he said.
The war has displaced over 1.4 million people, according to Mikati, with hundreds of thousands now crammed into shelters or fleeing into neighboring Syria.
Lebanon's cash-strapped government, already weakened by five years of economic turmoil, is struggling to respond to the escalating demands on its healthcare and social services.
In addition to bolstering Lebanon’s armed forces, the conference also focused on supporting the 10,500-strong UN peacekeeping mission, UNIFIL, which is tasked with maintaining calm along the Lebanon-Palestinian border.
European countries like France, Italy, and Spain contribute significantly to the mission, with Italy calling for it to be strengthened to meet the new realities on the ground.
Read more: EU bends rules to allow trade with Israeli settlements: The Intercept
The crisis has underscored Lebanon’s longstanding political paralysis. For two years, the country has been without a president, and factions remain deadlocked over a replacement.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on Lebanon’s leaders to take decisive action, stressing the need for functional state institutions to address the country’s urgent political and security challenges.
