$1 billion in aid pledged at
Paris international conference

$800 million for humanitarian needs and $200 million for security forces

More than 70 nations and international organizations have pledged $1 billion in humanitarian and military aid to Lebanon at the International Conference in Support of Lebanon's People and Sovereignty that was held Paris on Thursday.

“We have collectively raised $800 million in humanitarian aid and $200 million for the security forces, that’s about $1 billion,” said Jean-Noël Barrot, France’s Foreign Minister.

The pledged amount is almost the double of the $540 million target set by France which hoped to exceed the initial UN appeal of $426 million.

France promised to provide an aid package of €100 million ($108 million). President Emmanuel Macron said that his country’s assistance will include support to the education sector and to the Army to help it deploy in the South. Germany pledged €96 million ($104 million) in humanitarian and development aid to Lebanon and Syria. Italy announced this week an additional €10 million ($10.8 million) to Lebanon.

Nasser Yassin, Minister of Environment, said that Lebanon needs $250 million a month to cover basic food, water, sanitation and education services for the displaced. He said that only 20 percent of their needs are currently covered.

Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General, said at the conference: “Since last October, over 2,300 people have been killed […]. More than half of the deaths in Lebanon have occurred since the dramatic escalation in Israeli strikes on 23 September. Many of those killed were children and women. More than 1.2 million people have been displaced or affected.”

Imran Riza, United Nations Deputy Special Coordinator for Lebanon, said: “Not all those displaced are in formal shelters. For host communities, costs are equally severe, with local services and resources – be they livelihoods, housing or health – at breaking point. With hundreds of public schools converted to shelters, Lebanon’s children face the prospect of further losses in learning.”