​President Michel Aoun: “The comprehensive economic and financial plan is nearing completion. The plan requires external financial support, especially from the International Support Group, and pledges of Cedar conference”.

 

President Aoun called on the international community to provide prevention and medical care in camps of the displaced, with the increased risk of Corona and the provision of necessary assistance through the plan of the Lebanese state.

 

PM Diab calling on the ISG: “It is fair to have your support, to alleviate peoples’ hardship, which has lasted for half a century”.

 

PM Diab: “President Aoun and the Government decided to conduct an audit for Central Bank accounts, in keeping the promise of transparency, and to enhance our negotiating position in this difficult period in Lebanese history”.

 

Kubic asserted UN commitment to support Lebanon and its people, praising the steps taken by Lebanon in facing the Corona crisis.

 

Ambassadors of USA, France, EU, Britain, China and Russia, focused on supporting the Lebanese Government and providing necessary assistance in accordance with the Government’s plan.

 

President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, asserted that “The Lebanese state is currently working on preparing a comprehensive economic financial plan, as part of a national rescue plan. The plan is nearing completion, which aims to solve economic, financial and structural problems, and to restore confidence in the economy, as well as to reduce public debt and push public finance on a sustainable path, in addition to restoring activity and confidence in our financial sector”.

The President discussed the difficult challenges facing Lebanon, at the economic, financial, social and health levels, especially in light of the Corona repercussions. President Aoun pointed out that “The Government’s reform program requires external financial support, especially from friendly countries and from the ISG, to support payment balance and develop our vital sectors: water, electricity, baking and transportation.

Then, the International Community and UN organizations stressed their responsibilities towards Syrian refugee crisis in Lebanon, especially with Corona outbreak, in terms of providing prevention and medical care in camps, and providing necessary assistance to residents through the plan established by the Lebanese State.

From his side, Prime Minister, Hassan Diab, discussed the efforts made by the Government to reform the economic and financial situations, noting that “The Government is putting finishing touches to an integrated plan which addresses the economic, financial, monetary, social and governance reforms, which we desperately need”.

“We have worked relentlessly to find the right balance between what is fair and human for our people and what is acceptable within the international community’s framework” PM Diab continued.

Diab also pointed out that the Government concluded that Lebanon needs to restructure its debt in Dollars and the LBP, pledging to conduct a full program to strengthen the restructuring of the banking sector and Central Bank budget.

“Let me also draw your attention to the fact that His Excellency President Aoun and my Government decided to conduct an audit of Central Bank accounts in fulfilment of the promise of transparency, and to strengthen our negotiating position in this difficult period in Lebanese history” PM Diab said.

Afterwards, the Prime Minister addressed the ISG, calling on it to support Lebanon with the appropriate amount of foreign funds despite the very difficult international situation.

“We have made great strides in convincing our people of the necessity of making difficult choices in various fields, and it is fair that we hope in return for your support in thinking outside the bounds of the familiar, to find ways that will alleviate hardships of our people who have been suffering for nearly half a century” PM Diab stated.

Stances of the President, and Prime Minister, came during a meeting of the International Support Group for Lebanon, held today at 10:00am, at the Baabda Palace, at the invitation of President Aoun.

Attendees from the Lebanese side were: Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister, Zeina Akar, Foreign Affairs Minister, Nassif Hitti, Finance Minsiter, Ghazy Wazny, Economy and Trade Minister, Raoul Nehme, Social Affairs Minister, Ramzi Msharrafiyeh, Public Health Minister, Hamad Hassan, Advisor of the President, Salim Jreisatti, Director General of the Lebanese Presidency, Dr. Antoine Choucair, and a number of advisers.

On the part of the ISG delegation: UN Special Coordinator in Lebanon, Jan Kubic, Russian Ambassador, Alexander Zasbekin, Chinese Ambassador, Wang Kijan, French Ambassador, Bruno Foucher, British Ambassador, Christopher Rampling, US Ambassador, Dorothy Shea, Arab League Ambassador, Abdul Rahman Al-Solh, Charge D’affaires of the Italian Embassy, Robert de Lecce, Charge D’affaires of the German Embassy, Michael Ross, Head of the European Union Mission, Ralph Joseph Tarraf, and Middle East Official at the World Bank, Sarouj Kumar Jah.

 

President Aoun’s Speech:

 

“At the onset, allow me, your Excellences’, to express how saddened and sorry I am about what your peoples are going through due to the COVID-19 epidemic, knowing that you all represent countries that have been profoundly hit by the tragedy.

I would like to ask you to stand and observe a minute’s silence in memory of all the victims of this epidemic, in Lebanon and in the four corners of the world, and in tribute to the deceased of the diplomatic corps in Lebanon, the ambassador of the Philippines, Mrs. Bernardita Catalla. 

 

Your Excellences’,

Esteemed audience,

 

I welcome you, ambassadors of friendly countries that have always accompanied Lebanon in its multiple crises, to such an extent as to create in 2013 the International Support Group in view of rallying support to help Lebanon and its institutions, especially with the exacerbation of the Syrian displacement crisis. As we thank you for the interest and support you have demonstrated throughout those years, we look up to further cooperation between us.

In its last meeting in Paris in December 2019, the ISG declared the willingness of the international community to support Lebanon to overcome its financial and economic crisis, with the precondition of establishing an efficient reliable government capable of fighting corruption and implementing a fundamental bundle of economic reforms.

At the pace of popular movements, in light of the growing economic, financial and social crisis, and despite all the political obstacles and hurdles, the desired government was formed indeed at the beginning of the present year, and pledged in its Ministerial Declaration to launch a rescue emergency plan and a reform basket, to fight corruption, adopt public finance solutions with economic measures to shift from a rentier economy to a productive one. If this plan is put on track, it is likely to pull Lebanon, gradually, out of the abyss where it has been hanging.

 

Esteemed audience,

 

Lebanon was getting ready to launch a workshop to address its economic, financial and social crises when the COVID-19 epidemic hit the world, so we had to declare a state of health emergency that required general mobilization. This has curbed Lebanon’s impetus to a certain extent, aggravated its crises and added to them the health crisis. And today, as we are facing all these crises and their repercussions, we welcome any international assistance from the friends of Lebanon.

I will expose to you now the challenges that we are confronted with, the ways that we adopt in dealing with them, and the assistance that we need, hoping that you take them into account upon approaching the Lebanese situation.

 

 

First – from an economic perspective:

Lebanon is suffering from an unprecedented crisis, characterized by a huge economic recession, a decrease in internal demand and imports, a severe shortage of foreign currencies, an increase in unemployment and poverty rates, along with an increase in prices and a devaluation of the Lebanese Pound through parallel markets, as well as a deficit in public finance entailed by decreased tax revenues.

 

 

For all these reasons, in order to stop the depletion of foreign reserves which have reached a very low level, and in an attempt to contain the budget deficit, the Lebanese State has decided on the 7^th of March 2020 to suspend the payment of the due Eurobonds, and two international consultants have been appointed, one financial and the other legal, to support the government in this respect.

The Lebanese State is currently working on putting up a comprehensive financial and economic plan, within a national rescue program, aimed at correcting the deep deficiencies in the economy and addressing the distortions entailed by 30 years of wrong economic and financial policies, preceded by 15 years of destructive wars that undermined many of the economic, industrial and even humanitarian infrastructures.

Despite all urgent circumstances, this plan is about to be completed. It aims at solving the economic, financial and structural problems, restoring faith in the economy, reducing public debt, putting public finance on a sustainable track, restoring vigor and confidence to the financial sector by ensuring transparency through fiscal audit and accounting conciliation, as decided by the Council of Ministers, to unveil and redress accumulated losses, by rehabilitating credits for productive sectors, implementing reform measures to promote growth, increase productivity and enhance the competitiveness of the Lebanese economy, and correct as well the balance of payments. In parallel, a fiscal reform focuses on uprooting corruption, improving fiscal compliance, controlling waste and ensuring good management of the public sector. At all stages, the plan seeks to spare the most vulnerable categories and to promote social safety nets.

In view of the current dangerous financial situation and the tremendous economic fallout on the Lebanese, the residents and the displaced, our reform program will need foreign financial support, especially from friendly States and from the International Support Group for Lebanon, in order to back up the balance of payments and to develop our vital sectors, namely water, electricity, banks, transportation, etc. We also rely greatly on the 11 billion dollar funding pledged at the CEDRE conference, which will be mainly dedicated to investment in infrastructure projects.

 

Second – from a social perspective:

Social security is one of the conditions of national security. It is therefore imperative to look after all the factions of our people, especially those who suffer poverty or severe shortage of livelihood resources that ensure a minimal decent life by offering the necessary food, medical and financial aid.

The Ministry of Social Affairs has therefore put in place a contingency plan to counter the tragedies that are and will be entailed by this imminent crisis, in consultation with all concerned ministries and civil society. The plan adopts transparent criteria, responds to the needs within available public resources and helps the Lebanese families overcome the emerging crisis.

 

Third – from a health perspective:

The emerging COVID-19 virus has become a global pandemic that has hit all nations, claiming tens of thousands of victims at a growing pace.

In Lebanon, having swiftly taken measures and procedures has helped us curb the incidence of this epidemic, keeping it so far within a reasonable range, and we are striving to keep the increase in the number of cases within our containment capacity. We are also trying to bring our expatriates back home within the available resources.

There is no doubt that national self-sufficiency during health crises is one of the pillars of the resilience of States in such crises. By self-sufficiency I mean the availability of medical, nursing, paramedic personnel, equipments, machines and protection methods namely PPEs, masks, gloves, sanitizers, as well as the required medication.

Human resources are sufficiently available and dedicated in Lebanon, for which we are very thankful. As for equipment, tools and medication, the national industry has tried to fill some gaps, and here I can only pay tribute to the Lebanese youth who sharpened their creativity during this crisis, thus registering tentative inventions that are badly needed.

Yet, the largest part remains for import, with all the tremendous and urgent financial burdens that it thrusts upon us.

 

Fourth – the Syrian displacement crisis:

The crisis of the Syrian displaced still weighs heavily upon the Lebanese socioeconomic reality for years. I have already addressed the international community repeatedly to explain its negative repercussions on Lebanon, and call for the safe return of the displaced to their country.

Today, with the imminent danger of the epidemic outbreak of COVID-19, and the increase of this danger at the doors of both displaced and refugee camps, our heavily burdened Lebanon has addressed the international community, once more to remind it of its responsibilities towards this humanitarian crisis. It has also turned to the UN organizations, agencies and programs to provide prevention and medical care in camps and ensure the necessary assistance for those living there, through the plan put up by the Lebanese State and not separate from it.

 

Excellences’,

 

A few days ago, UN Secretary-General has qualified the COVID-19 pandemic as the worst global crisis since the end of World War II. He had also previously qualified the Syrian Displacement crisis as the worst humanitarian crisis since World War II.

Today, Lebanon cumulates, on its soil, the burden of the largest and worst two crises that have hit the world for seventy-five years. If the COVID-19 is a bad fate that affected most of the countries and of which we have had our share, we have been bearing, alone, the displacement crisis which has cost us more than 25 billion dollars, as per the recognition of international institutions, with no solution looming in the foreseeable future.

 

Your Excellences’,

Esteemed audience,

 

The world after COVID-19 will not be the same as before. It will be scarred with human wounds and exhausted by economic repercussions. So will the world of economic and financial brutality, the world of “I am strong then I am right” remain in place? Or will the suffering that has forged it turn it into a more humane and more solidary world?

 

Our hope is that humanity will prevail.

 

Thank you for your attention”.

PM Diab’s Speech:

 

“It is my pleasure to also welcome you today in the Presidential palace. In the past 54 days, my government started a wide range of policies and measures to cope with several crises. Indeed, we have the enormous task of dealing with the legacies of the past, which led to:

1-     The current economic crisis, massively impacting growth and employment;

2-     A financial crisis with very wide current account and fiscal deficits;

3-     A soaring public and private debt; and

4-     A currency crisis that is severely limiting depositors’ access to their hard-earned money.

 

Due to this “perfect storm”, the Lebanese went to the streets on October 2019 calling for the end of “corruption”, “bad management” and lack of transparency. I said from day one that I heard their complaints and that I will act accordingly. As if the situation was not already extremely complex, the Covid-19 pandemic added further financial, economic, social and health problems.

Mr. President, Excellences, ladies and gentlemen,

The tremendous challenges that we are facing will by no means discourage my government to properly assess the situation and act forcefully to gradually secure a bright future for the Lebanese people, especially that they will have to go through very difficult times until the proper reforms are implemented. My government, assisted by experts, is finalizing a full-fledged plan that deals with economic, financial, currency, social, and governance reforms that are badly needed. We know what should be done and we have the will to do it. It is just not acceptable to inflict hardship on the Lebanese population without giving them the best options for a prompt reboot of the economy, and for the possibility to recover at least a big share of their losses. It would be unfair to see our population suffer without having a serious program that provides hope, hold bad actors accountable, and seek rigorously recovery of “stolen assets” and money.

Within those 54 days, my government had to take the very historical difficult decision of suspending the payment of the Eurobonds, after lengthy and complicated assessments of the various options, and I am somehow glad that we positioned ourselves on a good faith negotiation track, and that all of you expressed your support to this wise step.    After this important move, we have chosen our financial and legal advisors and started working around the clock with them on various fronts. My government also spent long hours studying a big number of options to exit the crises as quickly and as fairly as possible. We came to the conclusion that Lebanon needed to restructure its debt in both currencies US Dollars and Lebanese pounds to be able to reach sustainable levels of debt to GDP in the coming years, such a ratio that would include all external financial support, as well as the CEDRE pledged funds. We also pledge to undergo a full program to “promote” the reshaping of the banking sector and  the central bank’s balance sheet.     The summary is based on the thorough analysis that my government and its team of advisors and experts conducted with regards to the losses that have accumulated over the years in the system. Let me also highlight the fact that His Excellency President Aoun and my government decided to perform an audit of the central bank’s accounts to make good on our promise of transparency and strengthen our negotiating position in this difficult period of Lebanon’s history.

My government also engaged with international institutions and gathered support from them to face the various crises. In this regard, we formed joined teams with the World Bank to assess the monetary and financial situation, as well as the social, the fiscal, and the economic matters. I take the opportunity to thank the World Bank’s team for its impressive availability and readiness to help. As for the IMF, we had a visiting mission which triggered a constructive dialogue, followed by well-focused technical support issues, including capital control mechanism, following my conversation with Managing Director Georgieva. Accordingly, we will soon ask our multilateral counterparts to react to Lebanon’s plan to bridge gaps between our positions. The Ministry of Finance is also talking to all our multilateral and bilateral partners on a regular basis to update them on current matters and listen to their comments.

Excellences, Ladies and Gentlemen,

My government’s plan will be available soon, which we are currently finalizing. We have been working relentlessly to find the right balance between what is fair and humane to our population and what is acceptable on the framework of the international community.                       No doubt you have interest in Lebanon, and Lebanon needs your support, especially that we have a large gap to fill. We are committed to fill it as much as possible through our reforms’ agenda and through the recovery of ill-gotten assets, and we are hoping that you will support us accordingly with the proper level of external funds, despite the very difficult international situation. We came a long way in terms of convincing the Lebanese that tough choices are needed in various regards, and it would be fair in return to hope for your support in thinking outside the box to find ways that would reduce the hardship of a population that has been suffering for nearly half a century.

Finally, I would like to emphasize that our government will deal with the Lebanese people and yourselves with high levels of transparency. We have already showed a great deal of seriousness and clarity in assessing our situation, as shown in the investors’ conference held by the ministry of Finance, for which we received very positive feedback, mainly for the accuracy of the diagnostic. We will continue to tell the Lebanese the truth as part of our legitimacy, and rely on their support despite the difficult short period of time ahead, and we will rely on your capacity of mobilization to support us at the boards of the institutions, in allocating financial resources, supporting our quest for the recovery of Lebanon’s assets, and for your positive feedback throughout the reform process in order to bring Lebanon back to sustainable growth and prosperity in a stable context and on the shortest possible period of time. out of the total reforms pledged by my government during the first 100 days, 57% are now ready for voting in the Parliament.

 

Thank you”.

 

 

Finance Minister:

Finance Minister, Ghazi Wazni, delivered the following speech:

“The 54-day Government inherited unprecedented severe economic, financial and social crises. The Government was forced to take necessary and crucial measures for the sake of national economy. I would like to include the following four essential points in my speech:

-         Giving a clear picture of the economic and financial situation in Lebanon, for year 2020.

-         The Government’s decision to suspend debt payment.

-         The decision to communicate with the International Monetary Fund.

-         The comprehensive reform program.

Firstly, unfortunately, all economic, financial and social indicators are difficult, accurate and degraded. If we look at the economic situation, we will find that it witnesses economic downturn where we expect growth to be negative by more than 10%. In public finance, we expect a deficit of approximately 7% of the output. Regarding public debt, its situation is still very high and intolerable, as we expect it to exceed 170% of GDP, while the social situation is witnessing an increase in unemployment, it is expected that it will exceed 40%, and that the poverty rate will exceed 45 and 50% of the Lebanese population. In addition to these combined economic, financial and social crises, we also witness in year 2020 severe banking and monetary crises that clearly show the scarcity of hard currencies, the deterioration of Lira exchange rate, which in recent months has lost more than 50% of its value, to the depletion of the Central Bank reserves, from foreign currencies. These issues ultimately led to an inflation increase, which will approach 25% this year.

Regarding the second point, Lebanon decided, through a speech delivered by the Prime Minister, to suspend public debt payment. This decision is not due to Lebanon’s unwillingness to pay public debt, but rather from its inability to pay this debt. If we look at bank reserves, Lebanon’s foreign currencies started to bleed, because it has now reached 22 Billion USD. Therefore, the Government has preferred to pay debt entitlements in foreign currencies, allocating these foreign currencies to import raw foodstuffs into the country. The Lebanese Government was compelled to take such a decision and did not. If the Government could have paid the debt, it would have done it very quickly.

Third, when the Government faced difficulties regarding the economic and financial situation and found a need to prepare an economic and financial program which could meet International community requirements, it requested technical assistance from the International Monetary Fund. The meetings with it were positive and constructive in every sense. The IMF made recommendations to the Lebanese Government that we take into consideration, in relation to the preparation of the comprehensive economic program.

Finally, the comprehensive economic program includes basic points, which were adopted after we took into consideration that the current economic system, which is rentier, has fallen and Lebanon has become compelled in the coming years to have a new economic model. The main steps included in this program are: reform of general finance, restructuring of public debt, whether in the local currency or in foreign currencies, restructuring the private banking sector and Central Bank, restructuring in order to stimulate economic growth, and social reforms. This comprehensive program takes into account the recommendations that came from the IMF and World Bank, and all its axes cannot produce results without foreign aid. Therefore, we hope that the next stage will be the stage of financial support to Lebanon as one of the basic and necessary conditions for getting out of the crisis”.

 

Finance Ministry General Manager:

After the Finance Minister, the Director General of the Finance Ministry, Alain Biffany, gave a detailed presentation on financial and monetary conditions in the country and the Government’s plan to meet the conditions, especially in terms of public debt restructuring, reforming the bank system, and restructuring the Central Bank, in addition to a tax reform plan. Biffany elaborated on all these plans, according to the concept developed by the Government in cooperation with international consultants. Biffany also pointed out that the sources that will help in developing the economic sector are concentrated especially through bondholders after restructuring, external support, and through a productive economy and a conductive environment and cooperation with the international capital markets, asserting that the support of the “Friends of Lebanon” is essential, in this field”.

 

Social Affairs Minister:

“We find that 22% of the Lebanese population are below extreme poverty, and this was recorded before the current economic crisis. The Syrian IDP crisis in Lebanon doubled the number of the poor between 2012-2017. The World Bank estimates the number to reach 45% in March 2020, and there are some regions where the proportion if the poor is concentrated more than others, which will lead to a human labor shortage, in addition to human capital loss, which is estimated at 46% of the productivity of future generations. The current situation entailed the necessity of creating a safety net program to stop the exacerbation of poverty and preserve the human capital of the poorest families.

To all this, a new Corona pandemic crisis was added, and curfew helps to line up the upward path, and the number of active cases is declining. Municipalities fill out forms to conduct a survey that is saved electronically, to be sent to the Prime Minister’s office, where it will be evaluated to obtain clear numbers for each population to know who is mostly in need. Experience from the fight against poverty shows us the number of people in need of beneficiaries from families, in addition to housing counts, the level of education and employment rates.

Regarding the Syrian refugee crisis, we find about two million Syrians residing in illegal camps, and they are distributed in various governorates, and there are permanent and non-permanent residential and non-residential shelters for them. The need for beds and intensive care units becomes urgent and very large, which equals about 200 additional beds and 25 units, and additional respiratory equipment if they are Corona-infected. There is prevention, training and necessary care being given by the High Commissioner for Refugees in addition to providing humanitarian workers and special programs. The economic downturn recorded an additional 12% in 2020, and the percentage of those below poverty may rise to 52% at the end of this year, according to World Bank reports, of whom 22% are under the extreme poverty line and 44% are unemployed. The cost of refugees ranges annually between 4 and 5 billion dollars, of which about one billion Dollars, of which is equivalent to about 25 billion Dollars in the total past years.

The Government has launched an aid program, whereby 75 Billion LBP will be distributed to about 180,000 families at a rate of 400,000LBP for each beneficiary, and we collect data to proceed accordingly as quickly as possible. We are also working to double cooperation with various ministries in addition to developing procedures appropriate to Corona, and we hope that we can reach children, the disabled, and the elderly. It is important that we get support for the refugee needs response program from the High Commissioner for Refugees”.

Health Minister:

“The Attrition of the Public Health Ministry finances is increasing, especially with the outbreak of COVID 19, and here I refer to the difficulty of financial transfers to purchase medical supplies and equipment with the required speed, which puts the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, Medical Staff and Society in the face of complex health challenges. It should be noted that with regard to the displaced Syrians and Palestinian refugees, we notice the absence of international institutions in general from the field health intervention plans, and most of them are still in the process of developing plans and studies, and this is a waste of time, which may constitute a pandemic and humanitarian catastrophe. This will be a global challenge to fulfill the promises made in this regard.

Finally, we in the Health Ministry implement a preventive health policy and do not approach health challenges from any political standpoint and this is what we have succeeded in so far, so we have achieved comprehensive health protection on all Lebanese soil, with professionalism and transparency, without distinction between societies or nationalities.

Health Ministry Offer:

After the speech of the Health Minister, Ms. Rasha Hamra, from the ministry, presented a detailed presentation on the current health situation in the country, especially after the spread of Corona Virus, in which she discussed the readiness of the Government and private hospitals to receive infected people, and the number of beds available there, pointing out that the health sector needs immediate assistance and to increase the number of equipment through which tests are conducted, so that it is possible to conduct 2500 tests daily. Hamra also stressed the importance of dealing with urgent cases, training workers to conduct tests, and providing the necessary drugs. Concerning the issue of displaced Syrians, Ms. Hamra mentioned that a hospital must be allocated for refugees and prisoners and unemployed categories must be taken care of”.

 

Jan Kubic Speech:

 

Draft Talking Points of Mr. Jan Kubic, Special Coordinator for Lebanon

on Behalf of UNSCOL

International Support Group Meeting at the Invitation of H.E. President Aoun

Beirut, 6 April 2020

 

• Allow me to thank H.E. President Aoun for inviting the members of the ISG and giving them an opportunity to listen but also to speak.

• Presentations provided in this meeting will help us understand the government’s vision, strategies, and objectives but also gaps and challenges in its efforts to find a way out of unprecedented crises with deep negative implications on peoples’ wellbeing and future, Lebanon’s stability and security, if not addressed quickly in a timely, comprehensive, effective, and credible way.

 

• They will help us understand in which priority areas Lebanon needs increased mobilization of the necessary support and assistance to overcome this period of existential crisis now heavily compounded by the COVID-19 global pandemic.

 

• The ISG members expressed their position in the communique from the ISG Paris meeting on 11 December 2019 and subsequent statements.

 

• The COVID-19 outbreak represents an unprecedented challenge for the country as it compounds issues the country has already been struggling with prior to the health emergency: macro-economic vulnerabilities, lack of liquidity and debt sustainability, weak institutions and public services and systems, deepest economic, social, and financial crisis in the recent history; increasing social tensions.

 

• The United Nations welcome the steps taken by Lebanon so far to start addressing the crisis and its impact on the population. We further encourage in particular the efforts to ensure all population groups across the country can have access to testing and treatment through the network of hospitals designated for the response.

 

• The health response needs to be coherent and unified under the oversight of the Government of Lebanon and offer the same level of services to all patients, regardless of their legal status and nationality.

• In support of the government efforts, the UN is strengthening the engagement with communities, to provide evidence-based guidance about COVID-19 prevention, mitigation and care, to continue delivering critical assistance and services to most vulnerable communities, including primary health care, protection, shelter and sanitation.

 

• The UN is preparing a COVID-19 funding appeal, to be issued this week, outlining the key priority areas of UN and partners to support the national COVID-19 response. The appeal is divided into four priority areas: 1. Supporting the preparedness and response capacity of the Lebanese health system in coping with COVID-19 outbreak; 2. Strengthening the engagement and communication with communities, and support for good hygiene practice; 3. Continue to deliver critical assistance and services to most vulnerable communities affected by the Syria crisis, as foreseen in the Lebanon Crisis Response Plan (LCRP); and 4. Expend support to vulnerable population groups not covered under the LCRP and in need of protection and humanitarian assistance due to the combined impact of previous socio-economic crisis and COVID-19.

 

• For the UN, the situation around Syrian but also Palestinian refugees remains a priority. UNHCR and UNRWA are working on specific plans to cater for population living in overcrowded locations, i.e. camps and informal tent settlements. This includes provision for dedicated quarantine areas, which can also be repurposed as isolation places for patients with mild symptoms.

 

• The UN with the WB and other international partners work closely with the government on social safety net and on mobilizing support for the government in its efforts to mitigate existing and new vulnerabilities, including the socio-economic impact of COVID-19.

 

• The United Nations and partners are refocusing their work to best support the Government of Lebanon and the people of Lebanon in the current circumstances. Now is the time for collective and coordinated engagement.

 

• In conclusion, I would like to emphasize solidarity and commitment of the UN, of key members of the international community to support Lebanon and its people, its development, unity, security, and stability.

 

 

Ambassador Foucher:

 

“It is useful to meet in light of these difficult international circumstances resulting, especially from Corona international outbreak, to discuss the three crises that Lebanon is currently undergoing: health, economic and social. The current international crisis is terrifying with a large number of victims, and Europe has constituted the most affected continent with a proportion exceeding three quarters of global deaths. I salute the Lebanese Government and the Health Minister in particular for what everyone has done, as the crisis was managed early by taking early and courageous measures, which must continue. I also salute the return of Lebanese abroad, which took place under very strict measures. Lebanon’s needs are many, and France has tried as much as possible to provide medical and health assistance, since the ninth of last March amid difficult circumstances, since we took it from our strategic stock”.

 

Then, Foucher spoke about  the current economic and financial crisis, saying that it must be confronted by taking necessary measures, especially as it is taking place in light of an international crisis that is exacerbating its role, as more than 90 countries requested assistance at the present time. “Lebanon can obtain immediate assistance, and it is necessary for him to endorse the economic reform program and to take executive decisions in this context” Foucher added. The French Ambassador also called for “Restructuring of the debt and the banking sector, implementing the necessary reforms in addition to taking courageous financial decisions and undertaking financial reforms in Public, electricity, judiciary, etc.”.

 

Foucher said that “France supports the Diab’s Government, which works with great effort day and night”, noting that there are decisions that must be taken in the short and long term, to reduce the social crisis, especially unemployment. “It is unfortunate to see many countries benefit from the level of higher education and experience for the Lebanese youth, which unemployment causes them to find job opportunities abroad. We support all efforts made to establish a productive system, and the decisions of the Cedar Conference are still in place, and they have identified about 80 major investment projects. Their priorities and mechanisms for monitoring their implementation are required to put them into practice and launch investment, without delay” Foucher concluded.

 

 

 

 

Ambassador Tarraf:

Afterwards, Ambassador Tarraf, indicated that the European Union remains one of the most to contribute in providing aid to Lebanon, especially in the medical field, which amounted to about 80 million Euros. Tarraf revealed that the Union allocated aid to Lebanon last week worth 168 million Euros in the social, educational and other fields. Ambassador Tarraf hoped that this assistance would contribute to the consolidation of a social system that is experiencing sustainable growth, stating that the European Union is developing its aid programs for Lebanon in close cooperation with the Lebanese Government through multiple channels of cooperation, so that the assistance it provides reaches all the Lebanese who are in need, in addition to the Palestinian refugees and displaced Syrians.

 

Regarding financial and economic aid to Lebanon, Ambassador Tarraf asserted that the EU works through the European Bank for Reconstruction, Development and Investment, which facilitates securing many of Lebanon’s needs as aid, reiterating the Union’s commitment to the decisions of the Cedar Conference. “The European Union is committed to supporting the Lebanese Government in its efforts to adopt basic structural reforms, supporting fair governance, the independence of the judiciary, and all reforms to put them into effect as announced” Tarraf concluded.

 

British Ambassador:

 

Ambassador Rampling greeted “The efforts made by the Government and the Lebanese health and hospital sector standing in the front ranks to confront a global epidemic that affected the international system for the first time in such a great way, in several generations”.

 

Rampling revealed that the UK has allocated  1 million Dollars in aid to Lebanon to help it confront Corona, in addition to other assistance by the World Health Organization and to provide respirators as a contribution to meeting the urgent medical needs of Lebanon during this period.

Then, Rampling spoke about the necessity of carrying out required reforms in Lebanon, considering that developing a transparent and sustainable system would encourage donor countries to provide assistance, which would also form an essential part of the answer required for Lebanon’s needs. The British Ambassador saluted the efforts exerted to develop strategies to confront the economic and financial crisis in Lebanon by the Government, pointing out that it must be put into practice at the required speed, and reiterated his country’s support for the Lebanese Army and security forces in order to maintain security and stability in Lebanon, which remains a priority as well.

 

US Ambassador:

 

US Ambassador, Dorothy Shea, considered that, “It is very useful to listen to the presentation made by the members of the Lebanese Government on Lebanon’s response to the Corona crisis as well as to the economic and financial crisis. Lebanon cannot move forward towards a future of prosperity without facing the two crises together and their overlapping repercussions”. Shea pointed to the assistance provided by the United States of America as support for Lebanon’s requirements in the field of humanitarian aid in addition to the international support group in order to face Corona outbreak, revealing that there are more existing aid programs to provide what can be provided of needs to Lebanon. The US Ambassador presented the various efforts made by the United States through international institutions to confront this epidemic. “Including existing and new aid, including some that are under preparation, the most prominent of which are: in April, some 2,000 examination units for Corona were provided, and in March 10,000 vials sterilized for the armed forces, in addition to 17,000 medical masks and 120,000 gloves were distributed through NGOs, in addition to providing training courses on Corona confrontation in coordination with the Lebanese Red Cross, and donating $ 400,000 to UNICEF to provide masks, sterilizers, and soaps in schools for Lebanese and Palestinian children and Syrian displaced children”. 

Shea also referred to an aid program allocated to about 5,000 families, in addition to aid programs which include technical, technological and financial equipment and assistance for Lebanese institutions that are concerned with examining Corona, including testing units, breathing machines, medicine, and others. Finally, she addressed the assistance her country provides to the Army and armed forces, in addition to the American University and the American University Hospital to deal with this epidemic. “We support the efforts of the Lebanese Government and the international community to discuss how together we can help secure the protection of the Lebanese people from this epidemic” Shea concluded.

 

 

Chinese Ambassador:

 

After that, the Chinese Ambassador thanked President Aoun for the invitation, stressing the necessity of enhancing joint efforts to combat Corona disease, and said: “We cooperate closely with the Lebanese Government in the areas of information exchange, in taking precautionary measures, coordination between the two sides, and providing assistance as possible in the field of materials and medicines, and to facilitate the contributions of the Chinese community and Chinese companies operating in Lebanon. We will continue this work effectively”.

 

The Chinese ambassador indicated that his country is ready for economic and trade cooperation with the Lebanese Government to launch projects that are in line with the common interests of the two countries within the framework of cooperation and mutual respect.

 

 

 

 

Russian Ambassador:

 

The Russian Ambassador stressed the unification of humanitarian efforts to face Corona developments, regardless of political considerations. Zasbekin stressed that his country has provided and will continue to provide assistance to Lebanon according to Government needs.

 

President Aoun:

At the end, President Aoun thanked the Ambassadors, the representative of the Secretary-General of the UN, and the World Bank representative, and everyone who will help Lebanon cope with this current predicament.

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