To help Lebanon overcome the tragedy and recover better, "we will need all hands on deck", deputy UN chief Amina Mohammed told virtual donors conference on Sunday, convened to rally international assistance and support in the wake of last week's massive explosion at the Beirut port, which killed some 150 people, wounded thousands and caused destruction throughout much of the city. "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 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. Meanwhile, the European Commission has pledged additional 30 million euros ($35 million) at the donors conference for Lebanon. The EU's executive body said in a statement this comes on top of 33 million euros ($39 million) in emergency aid previously announced. New EU funding will be channeled to UN agencies, NGOs and international organizations and be strictly monitored, the statement said. European Council President Charles Michel called during the conference for an independent and credible inquiry into the cause of the explosion and said that he European Union and its member states stand ready to assist. (More to come)
