World leaders pledge almost US$300 million in aid for Lebanon in wake of catastrophic port blast
- A joint meeting, hosted by France, saw representatives from nearly 30 countries discuss financial rescue package
- Joint statement released on Sunday also raised concerns about Lebanese government corruption
World leaders on Sunday pledged almost US$300 million for disaster-struck Lebanon, conference host France said, with the emergency aid to be delivered “directly” to a population reeling from the deadly port blast in Beirut.
Fifteen government leaders including US President Donald Trump took part in the virtual conference hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and the UN, pledging solidarity with the Lebanese people and promising to muster “major resources” in the coming days and weeks.
A joint statement issued after the meeting in which representatives of nearly 30 countries as well as the EU and Arab League took part, did not mention a global amount.
But Macron’s office said the total figure of “emergency aid pledged or that can be mobilised quickly” amounts to €252.7 million (US$298 million), including €30 million from France.
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Moment of Beirut blast captured in bridal photo shoot video
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 of emergency aid have been collected,” including €20 million from Germany.