World Leaders to Hold Lebanon Aid Conference on Sunday

[left-of-center2012]

Source: Bloomberg

Global leaders including U.S. President Donald Trump will participate in an international aid conference on Sunday to support Lebanon, as the country, crippled by corruption, a banking crisis and growing popular defiance against the authorities, is seeking massive relief after blasts in Beirut. The video-conference will be co-hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and the United Nations. Macron said he would make sure any aid goes directly to the Lebanese people and not into “corrupt hands,” during a visit to Beirut on Thursday.

Several allies of Lebanon have offered support since Tuesday’s explosions in the port of Beirut that left over 150 people dead, many missing, more than 5,000 injured and close to 300,000 people homeless as the blast partially destroyed the city. Authorities said the biggest explosions in Beirut’s history caused an estimated $10 billion to $15 billion worth of damage.

Gulf states, European nations and the U.S. have sent mobile clinics, food and medicine to the country. European Council President Charles Michel was in Beirut on Saturday and promised support. The chief of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, pledged to mobilize regional efforts to provide support. Turkey said it is ready to help rebuild the port.

The country, which is almost entirely reliant on imports of fuel, food and material, may use Turkey’s Port of Mersin, on the Mediterranean, until the Port of Beirut is rebuilt and Ankara is ready to also help reconstruct the buildings nearby and send medical assistance and food aid, the agency said.

Read more: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-08-08/world-leaders-to-hold-lebanon-aid-conference-on-sunday?srnd=premium

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Lebanon’s president Michel Aoun said on Friday an investigation would examine whether it was caused by a bomb or other external interference. “The cause has not been determined yet. There is a possibility of external interference through a rocket or bomb or other act,” Aoun said.

[NNadir]

1. I regret that we cannot send a "leader" from our country. All we can offer is a babbling idiot...

...child.

Thankfully, there are still adults in the world; they just don't run the US.

[totodeinhere]

2. It's infuriating that that asshole will be representing our country at an important conference

like this.

[left-of-center2012]

3. Maybe Donald will suggest building a Trump Hotel in Beirut?

[Sgent]

4. This is sad / scary

the country was barely hanging on by a thread anyway. Its very possible it could erupt into civil war.

[BigmanPigman]

5. This may be what they needed to bring the corrupt govt to an end.

The govt elites have screwed them royally. No currency, trading for milk and bread, no personal savings left, and power is only on a few hours a day. France is doing what America would normally be doing. We have lost our reputation on the world stage. Beirut's govt looks about as bad as ours right now.