Channel 1 Los Angeles
8/9/2020 UN New York N.Y.
“The explosion in Beirut last Tuesday shocked the world,” leaving neighborhoods flattened, a large part of Lebanon’s grain reserves obliterated, six hospitals damaged or destroyed, hundreds of thousands have been made homeless – many of them children, the Deputy Secretary-General told the donors teleconference, co-convened by French President Emmanuel Macron and the UN.
The deputy UN chief offered her condolences to those who lost loved ones, and a full recovery to the thousands of injured. “Above all,” she said, “I give my pledge that the United Nations is committed to helping the people of Lebanon in every way we can.
Since the blast, the UN system has been working around the clock, delivering medical supplies, shelter kits and food parcels, and helping reunite separated families, and Ms. Mohammed expressed gratitude to the donors that had enable the Organization to jump into action.
“Financial support leveraged in record time – in particular from regional partners – is already making a difference. But of course, this is just the beginning,” she cautioned.
Recovery and reconstruction
Ms. Mohammed said the damage to homes and public infrastructure is significant – and the response must match it.
The sense of urgency, large-scale activity and considerable funding required to tackle the recovery and reconstruction will need to go beyond the UN’s humanitarian system and involve a wider range of UN organizations and other partners.
“To help Lebanon overcome the tragedy and recover better, we will need all hands on deck,” said the Deputy Secretary-General, adding: “The faster we act, the better we can reduce human suffering, in Lebanon and beyond – let us not forget that the port that was destroyed also serves humanitarian needs in Syria.”
