France has promised €100 million ($108 million) to support Lebanon amidst a humanitarian disaster propelled by relentless Israeli airstrikes that have forced more than a million people to flee their homes. President Emmanuel Macron, speaking in Paris at an international conference, underlined the urgent need for “enormous aid” while denouncing Israel’s military intervention and calling for a cease-fire.
“The destruction is visible. The victims are real, and the violence cannot be justified,” he said, as ministers and officials of more than 70 countries came together to pledge emergency aid to Lebanon’s teetering government. The conference was held in response to an urgent UN appeal for nearly $400 million of assistance. Philippe Lazzarini, the boss of the UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees, called on the conference for extra funds to preserve its humanitarian role in the region.
France is also working on reinforcing the Lebanese army so that it can be deployed more effectively along the southern border and help remove the Hezbollah forces from the border area. Acting Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati announced that his government would recruit 8,000 new troops to help enforce a ceasefire as the UN Security Council called for.
The confirmation came from Josep Borrell, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, that it would provide €20 million, or $21.59 million, this year and another €40 million, or $43.18 million, next year to the Lebanese army.
However, the absence of key players means US Secretary of State Antony Blinken sends a deputy instead, raising doubts over possible political breakthroughs. With many countries represented but only junior officials, external observers said the high-level commitment to resolving the crisis was glaringly absent.
